For the delight of admirers of Khadi and indigenously manufactured products, the Khadi and Saras mela — a fete of primarily Khadi products — will begin from Thursday. The 17-day fair will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Raghubar Das and will showcase products, different shades of Indian culture besides a host of facilities rolled out by Government and private institutions operating in Jharkhand.
The fair, organised by Jharkhand Khadi Gramodyog Board, was expected to begin from Wednesday, however, inauguration was deferred as the CM was out of the State. “Stalls of products manufactured for common man will be set up at the fair and skill enhancement training in 20 trades will be provided to artisans during the fair. Artistes from different parts of the country will present cultural programmes,” said Chairman of Board, Jainandu.
The fair will commemorate social activists, famous leaders of the nation. A theme pavilion will be set up after the name of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Technology pavilion will be named after Kasturba Gandhi whereas the main platform will be named after Mahatma Gandhi. Salient features of the fair will be financial services offered by Bank of India—coin vending machine, Aadhar seeding, activation of RuPay debit card issued under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojna, account opening and national seminars besides mobile banking. The fair will display manufacturing activities and will facilitate selling of the items manufactured in the premises.
“For the first time, products will be manufactured in the premises and will be sold at the same place. If a customer fails to get a product and the fair ends, then the product will be delivered at the customer’s address,” added Jainandu. Government’s institutions like State literacy Mission, MNREGA, JSAC, NRlM and other institutions associated with social sector projects will set up their stalls at the fair.