Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Thursday evening inaugurated the 10th Regional SARAS (Sale of Articles of Rural Artisans Society) Mela at Kashmir Haat to showcase products made by rural craftsmen.He was received by Minister for Rural Development, Abdul Haq Khan at the venue.Minister for Horticulture, Haj and Auqaf, A. R. Veeri, Minister for Law, Justice & Parliamentary Affairs, Relief and Rehabilitation, Syed Basharat Bukhari, Minister for Finance, Labour & Employment, Dr. Haseeb A. Drabu, Minister for Transport, A. G. Kohli, MLA, Mohammad Khalil Bandh and MLC, Zaffar Manhas, were also parent on the occasion.An initiative of the Union Rural Development Ministry, SARAS Mela will display products from 19 states of the country as well as all Self-Help Groups from all the 22 districts of J&K.
Immediately on his arrival at the venue, the Chief Minister went around the stalls and interacted with the craftsmen about the quality of their products, which include handicraft, handloom, food items, furniture and furnishing from all over the country.He said exhibitions like SARAS provide a platform not only for direct sale of rural products but also sensitize artisans about new marketing tools and linkages. It also provides an opportunity to artisans and entrepreneurs from different states of the country to exchange ideas to improve the quality of products for better saleability.“Fairs like SARAS also provide rural entrepreneurs opportunity for direct sale, without involvement of middlemen. The consumers also get benefited by buying products at much lower cost,” he said, hoping the fair generates lot of interest amongst the people of the state.Also present at the function were Secretary, Rural Development, Khurshid Shah, Director, Rural Development, Kashmir, Tassaduq Jeelani and other senior officers of Rural Development Department.