Arunachal Pradesh CM Inaugurates SARAS Fair To Empower Rural Artisans

ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Pema Khandu, inaugurated the Sale of Articles of Rural Artisans Society, or SARAS fair on Monday, emphasizing the importance of rural development for the state's overall growth and progress. Speaking at the event, Khandu stated, "India will develop when the Northeast develops."

The SARAS fair is very essential for connecting talented rural artisans of the state to national and international markets that can bring out the richness of the region's cultural heritage, handicrafts, handlooms, and organic products. Khandu added that the corpus of the self-help groups in the state now stands at about ₹300 crores, reflecting the collective efforts of communities in Arunachal Pradesh.

The Chief Minister declared that more than 1,600 women have been certified as lakhpati didis, due to their hard work in various livelihood activities. He also added that 29,000 potential SHG members are being engaged in capacity-building initiatives to further enhance their economic status.

During the fair, Khandu launched a new initiative to support artisans engaged in weaving, crochet, knitting, and handicrafts, providing seed capital of ₹2 lakhs per cluster. He also announced a marketing outlet specifically for SHG products in the state capital, which will allow year-round sales and easy access to the market for local artisans. The fair features participation from SHGs from various northeast states, which highlights regional cooperation and culture.

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