The deputy commissioner hailed the efforts taken by SHG groups
HT Correspondent
SILCHAR, April 11: A three-day Baishakhi Mela was inaugurated in Karimganj on Sunday for sale and promotion of products of the district’s women self help groups (SHGs).
Mridul Yadav, deputy commissioner of Karimganj, inaugurated the fair by lighting a lamp at the playground of Nilmoni Higher Secondary School in Karimganj on Sunday at the initiative of Karimganj District Branch of Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission and in collaboration with the district administration.
Speaking on the occasion, the DC said that the fair was organised for the first time by the Assam government to encourage SHG groups and to promote the sale of their handicrafts as there was no proper market for them. He hoped that the products made by them would be sold in the area and urged the people of the district to purchase the products of SHG group at the fair and hoped that the organisation would be successful with the co-operation and participation of the people.
Earlier, Nitu Chandra Das, district functional expert, Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission, said that there are a total of 7,310 SHGs covering 83,420 households in the district. Out of this, 210 people in the district have been provided employment in various organisations under Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana scheme.
Lead district manager Siddharth Shankar Som in his speech urged the SSC groups to keep the bank transactions regular and abide by the specific rules of the bank. He requested the deputy commissioner to set up a market for the products of SHG groups on government land in Karimganj district. He also encouraged the members of SHG Group to take advantage of various insurance schemes of the government, Atal Pension Yojana, etc.
Later, Karimganj DC Mridul Yadav also visited 30 stalls at the fair, inspected the quality and appreciated their works.
Chief executive officer of Karimganj Zilla Parishad, Ruth Liangthang along with DPM Rasingja Entip of Karimganj District Mission Management Unit of Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission participated in the program.