The state level industrial and cultural Gauchar Fair now going on in full swing in Chamoli district, people are coming in their droves, some wandering around the fair while some purchasing the items on sale and some enjoying the cultural programmes being held every day.
On Friday, the Chamoli district industry centre hosted an industrial seminar at Gauchar which was presided over by the Vice-Chairman of Mela Samiti Mukesh Negi, Nagar Palika president.
The seminar was inaugurated by Karnprayag MlA Surendra Singh Negi. Notably, 30 weavers and 10 engaged in small scale industry have been provided with stalls in the fair, free of cost.
Addressing the seminar, MlA Negi said that the state Government is doing everything possible to boost small scale industry and handicrafts. In order to encourage people to set up small scale industry, the state Government has launched many subsidized schemes, he said.
While appreciating the quality of the items on display at the stalls set up in the mela ground, the civic body president Mukesh Negi said that the handicrafts being displayed in the fair are what is bringing the large footfalls of the visitors.
“The craftsmen make it a point to bring new items every year during the fair,” he said. The president of an industrialists’ body Birendra Singh Negi exhorted the industrialists to go the whole hog to strengthen the economy by generating employment opportunities.
The acting district magistrate Ila Giri motivated the industrialists to set up new units in the state and directed the bankers to provide easy loans to those interested in setting up industry.
The recipient of the national award for handicrafts Maheshwari Khati was felicitated during the seminar with shawl, while a Chamoli district resident Gulabi Devi was given Rs 6000 in recognition of her contribution to the development of handicrafts in the district.