Kolkata SARAS is a joint venture by Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India & Panchyats & Rural Development, Government of West Bengal.
History of Saras and about Saras:
For the socio-economic development and self-employment of rural families, the state
government organises an exhibition cm fair of the products of rural artisans of
Bengal alongwith other states, with the assistance of central government. Numerous self-help groups of our country participate in this fair with their products of handicrafts, for exhibition as well a
s marketing.So it is called Saras Mela. Here,one can find hundreds of type of handlooms and handicrafts, made by the women of self-help groups across the country. The fair at Central Park,Karunamoyee, Salt Lake will be open for all from today, till 25th February2013. The Indian states have a wide range of crafts, which have attained commercial proportions not only in India but abroad as well. They make excellent souvenirs for tourists and are sold through various handicrafts emporium. Craft making is an ancient tradition in India, which has withstood the test of time, and the tradition has passed on from generation to generation. The Indian craftsmen still adept at making the traditional crafts, which have attracted the attention of connoisseurs of craft all over the world
SARAS is a well-established brand name among urban as well as rural consumers and connoisseurs of rural crafts,benefiting a large number of rural artisans. History:
A Major initiative was taken by the Ministry of Rural Development in the direction of promoting rural products and building capacities of Swarozgaris during 1999-2000 when it participated in India International Trade Fair (IITF), 1999 under the banner of SARAS. It was organized, for the first time, with a view to give exposure to rural artisans/entrepreneurs/ officials dealing with SGSY to a major international event in the country to develop markets for products manufactured by beneficiaries of programmes of the Ministry; and, to create awareness amongst urban consumers of Delhi and surrounding areas about rural products. SARAS was promoted as un umbrella brand for promoting all the rural products. Since 1999 SARAS exhibitions have been a regular annual event and have been able to elicit wide participation by the beneficiaries of the programmes of the Ministry from all over the country. The participants bring an impressive range of rural products, which include handicrafts, textiles, artwork, furniture, items of daily use etc. The visitors show a lot of interest in these products and there is a huge direct sale of rural products every year. In addition to the direct sales, bulk orders for the products are also received during these exhibitions and the participants have been able to meet these orders to a large extent. Apart from participating in the India International Trade Fair (IITF), the Ministry has been organizing regional SARAS fairs regularly in the recent years. The participation in these exhibitions have given a fillip to the confidence and enthusiasm of rural artisans and officials dealing with the self-employment programme. SARAS has been able to demonstrate the capacity of the rural poor to produce goods for sale in urban, metropolitan and international markets. SARAS exhibitions have opened a new dimension in promotion of rural products and encouraged the participants and other stakeholders in the development of rural products/artisans. It is felt that SARAS has provided a platform not only for direct sales of rural markets, giving exposure to rural artisans/ entrepreneurs to various aspects of marketing, and developing linkages with various other markets. The concept of participation has to be evolved in the longer run with these objectives in mind. SARAS 2013 is another event in the chain for assisting these artisans, opening new opportunities for them, improving their awareness level and exposing the richness of products from rural poor to the huge urban markets. organizing such Melas in cities will provide better platform for the beneficiaries of SHGs, rural artisans and craftsmen to market their products properly and earn a livelihood. it will give opportunities to the rural artisans to market their products throughout the year. These people are very skilled… their products are of high quality. But the only thing lacking is the marketing of their products. So we should focus more on marketing, which will bring
SHGs much more benefit. the success of Saras Mela lies in the wholehearted participation of the artisan community from all parts of the country. This year more than 300(?) self-help groups, rural artisans and craftsmen from all parts of the country have put up stalls at Saras Mela, which will provide an opportunity to mostly the BPL beneficiaries to sell their products
and earn additional income, besides gaining national and international exposure
Statement showing the list Selp helps groups in whose favour the stalls have been allotted during the SARAS Fair 2012-13 held at Kolkata with effect from 14-25 February 2013. (Jammu & Kashmir State)
S.No Name of the Group leader Name of the SHGGroup Stall No allotted Residence /Distt Remarks
1. Ashiq Hussain Jaffer SHG 42 Gagoo Pulwama Personally attended
2 Shakeela w/o Altaf Hussain Kanwal SHG 110 Poniwah Kulgam -do-
3 Fareeda w/o Gulzar Ahmad Chinar SHG 153 -do- -do-
4 Haseena Begum w/o Bashir Ahmad Kharpora SHG 109 Khanpora Bandiopora -do-
5 Fareeda Akhter D/o Ab.Kabir Fareeda SHG 152 Asham Bandipora -do-
6 Farooq Ahmad Lone s/o Gh.Hassan Lone Chandni SHG 43 Waragam Budgam -do-
7 Mohd Maqbool Malik s/o Gh.Rasool Wani SHG 22 Magmam Budgam -do-
8 Fayaz Ahmad Malik s/o Nazir Ahmad Hamdani SHG 16 K.Jagir Budgam -do-
9 Gh.Hassan Ganaie s/o Gh.Mohd Noorani SHG 118 Yarigund Budgam -do-
10 Sajad Ahmad Wani s/o Ab.Wahab Pamposh SHG 35 -do- -do-
11 Nisar Hussain Lone s/o Gh .Hassan Roshan SHG 101 Waragam Budgam -do-
12 Gh.Hassan Dar s/o Gh.Ahmad Bismillah SHG 17 Chewa Budgam -do-
13 Mumtaza w/o Gh.Hassan Gulliaftab SHG 108 Soibugh Budgam -do-
14 Rayees Ahmad Wani s/o Ab.Rasid Wani Wani SHG 31 Arath Budgam -do-
(Mohmmad Maqbool)
State Co-ordinator (J&K)
SARAS Fair Kolkata. Copy for information to Incharge Regional SARAS Fair Kolkata(w.e.f 14-25 February 2013)with the request that the participation certificates may kindly be issued to above Group leaders/participants only. Incharge SARAS Fair
Kolkata 2012-13. Sub:- Cancellation of stall No 60 and --------. Sir,
The above stalls allotted in favour of ZarinaBegum w/o Gh.Nabi and Ali Mohmmad Bhat s/o Gh.Ahmad Bhat respectively may be cancelled and no participation certificate be issued in their favour . Yours faithfully. (Mohmmad Maqbool)
State Co-ordinator (J&K)
SARAS Fair Kolkata. The Indian craftsmen still adept at making the traditional crafts, which have attracted the attention of connoisseurs of craft all over the world
A Major initiative was taken by the Ministry of Rural Development in the direction of promoting rural products and building capacities of Swarozgaris during 1999-2000 when it participated in India International Trade Fair (IITF), 1999 under the banner of SARAS.
