Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated the "Northeast Textile & Craft Shopping Mela" here today, which has been jointly organised by the Ministry of DoNER and the Ministry of Textiles.Speaking to media persons present on the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh said the opening of the Northeast Shopping Mela is yet another attempt to portray and acquaint Northeast to the people living outside the region. Expressing satisfaction for having brought Northeast in a big way to the national capital, Dr Jitendra Singh recalled that early this year, the DoNER Ministry started a Northeast stall “Purbashree” at Dilli Haat and now this Shopping Mela at Janpath. He also expressed satisfaction that at both these places, the Northeast stalls are among the first to introduce cashless sale transaction keeping in tune with the Prime Minister Shri Narenda Modi’s current push towards digital economy.
After ceremonial cutting of the ribbon to declare the formal opening, Dr Jitendra Singh personally went around each of the 30 stalls, which are devoted to textile and craft products from the eight different States of Northeast. He also confirmed the availability of cashless transaction facility and QR (Quick Response) cash transaction provision at some of the stalls.Dr Jitendra Singh interacted with sales agents at different stalls and also spoke to some of the visiting customers in order to elicit their opinions and inputs. Accompanying Dr Jitendra Singh on the occasion were Shri Naveen Verma, Secretary, DoNER, Secretary, North Eastern Council (NEC), Shri Ram Muivah and senior officers from the Ministry of DoNER and Ministry of Textiles. Dr Jitendra Singh thanked Union Textiles Minister Smt. Smriti Irani for taking personal interest to make possible the setting up of the Northeast Textile & Craft Shopping Mela. The shopping area is spread over 30 stalls / outlets in the "Indian Craft Mela" at the popular market complex of Janpath.