While inaugurating the 10-day Himanya Saras Mela at Parade Ground on Tuesday, CM Harish Rawat said that the artisans and the craftsmen, connected with several self-help groups, are strengthening the rural economy of the State. He also appreciated the efforts of the rural development department which is taking all kinds of measures to better the living condition of the rural people of the State.
He asked the organisers to hold such mela in other districts too. This Mela is being jointly organised by the ministry of rural development, Government of India and rural development department, Uttarakhand Government. There are 200 stalls set up by the self-help groups. Earlier, the CM visited a number of such stalls and saw the products being sold there. He also inspected pavilion, showcasing Khadi clothes stitched in the mountainous districts. Badrinath Pavilion, Kedarnath Pavilion, Kailash Mansarovar Pavilion, Hemkund Sahib Pavilion and Peeran Kaliyar Pavilion are drawing huge crowds. It is learnt that over 100 self- help groups operating in the rural areas of the State and the same number working across the country have pitched around 200 stalls. A number of States like Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, UP, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Maharashtra, Odisha, MP and Bihar are being represented.