New Delhi

Centre to build outlets to market rural products

NEW DELHI: To provide marketing outlets to rural artisans, craftsmen, entrepreneurs and self-help groups, the Ministry of Rural Development has decided to build outlets at State capitals and districts in addition to organising annual SARAS fairs.

Inaugurating the annual festival SARAS 2008 at the Indian International Trade Fair here on Friday, Union Minister for Rural Development Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said 13 States had given land for the purpose. In Delhi, the plan was to build such a facility at Jasola. About 100 shops and living quarters would be constructed.

The Minister said there were programmes for training rural people in skill development, quality control and packaging. Quality rural products would be displayed at exhibitions in Italy and other places. “The attempt is to reduce poverty by 2015.”

Mr. Singh went round the Ministry’s sari exhibition-cum-sale. He also visited the SARAS 2008 stalls organised by the Council for Advancement of People’s Action and Rural Technology (CAPART). The fair aims at creating a platform by developing linkages with customers and providing an opportunity for manufacturers to interact directly with buyers.

The products range from saris, readymade garments, apparel, shawls, carpets to handicrafts and pickles, papads. The participants include rural artisans, Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojna beneficiaries, craftsmen, self-help groups, women entrepreneurs and voluntary organisations.

Later speaking to journalists, Mr. Singh said the National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP) might have shortcomings due to lack of awareness but it was a “revolutionary programme.” Over 4 crore bank accounts had been opened under the scheme.

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