27-Nov-2022: Saras sales touch record high at the 41st India International Trade Fair, did a business of over Rs. 6 crores
Saras Aajeevika Mela 2022 concluded today, breaking all its old records with a business turnover of more than Rupees 6 crores in last 14 days. The finest handicraft and handloom products from the remote areas of Rural India were displayed at the SARAS Aajeevika Mela 2022, organised by the Ministry of Rural Development and National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) at the 41st India International Trade Fair (IITF) at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
More than 300 craftsmen participated and showcased their products through around 150 stalls in the exhibition. Around 300 women from self-help groups from 26 States displayed handicraft, handloom and natural food items from different rural areas across the country in these stalls.
Huge number of people visited Saras Aajeevika Mela during the trade fair in Pragati Maidan. Saras remained the favourite choice of the visitors due to decorated stalls, spectacular theme pavilion and cultural programs in the evening.
The famous SARAS Aajeevika Mela, focusing on the theme of ‘tradition, art, craft and culture’ is one of the most prestigious government initiatives, that not just offers best of the cultural heritage, but also tells the story of rural women donning the hat of an entrepreneur at a national level platform.
A wide range of products from over 26 States were exhibited for sale at the SARAS Aajeevika Mela 2022. The SARAS Aajeevika Mela showcased the best of its collection in handloom sarees, dress materials, accessories and organic handicraft products from different states across India. Each stall, each product and each of the participating rural SHG women had a story to share. SARAS offered the listed products at the exhibition.
Handicraft: Bamboo art and water hyacinth products from Assam; Madhubani paintings and Sikki craft from Bihar; Candles, Soap, Wooden name plates from Chhattisgarh; Wooden toys, decorative items from Goa and Gujarat; Metal art, Terracotta item, Artifacts from Haryana; artificial flower art from North East; Jewellery from Karnataka; Footwear from Maharashtra; Sabai handicrafts, Brass item, Golden grass products from Odisha; Bangles from Bihar; Jute Hand bags from West Bengal were some of the showcased items.
Handloom: Silk saree, cotton saree, handloom cloth, cotton suit from Odisha, Bihar and Chhattisgarh; bedsheets from Uttar Pradesh; Kantha Stich sarees and dress materials from West Bengal; exclusive sarees of Telangana and Kerala; Woolen and Pashmina shawls of Jammu & Kashmir; dress materials, woolen shawls and jackets from Uttarakhand, woolen shawls from Himachal Pradesh; hand crafted jutties and mojeries, leather items of Rajasthan, leather lamp sheds, painting and wood craft of Andhra Pradesh.
Food items: Natural food items, gram-flour, rice, cashew nut, organic pulses from Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, spices and coffee from Kerala, tea leaves from Sikkim, organic vegetables and spices from Uttarakhand; medicinal herbs, rice and honey from Uttar Pradesh and mahua ladoo from Chhattisgarh etc.
The SARAS Aajeevika Mela helped in spreading the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Vocal for Local, Local to Global’
About SARAS Aajeevika Mela: SARAS Mela is an initiative by the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission [DAY-NRLM], Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Govt. of India to bring the rural women SHG members formed under DAY NRLM, under one platform to showcase their skills, sell and build linkages with potential market players at fair price.
14-Nov-2022: Dr VK Paul, Member NITI Aayog inaugurates Health Pavilion at the 41 st India International Trade Fair
Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog inaugurated the Health Pavilion at the 41st India International Trade Fair (IITF), here today. Special Secretary, Shri S Gopalakrishnan was also present on the occasion. The theme of this year’s pavilion of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is “Heal in India, Heal by India”.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Dr Paul stated that health must be given due attention. Lauding the stalls at the pavilion, he highlighted the need to create awareness among people for diseases like Amenia and Diabetes which remain invisible until diagnosed.
Dr Paul urged everyone to take the message of health in a mission-mode. He also appealed to all stakeholders to maximise their outreach of informative activities via various media.
He encouraged all stakeholders to use the Health Pavilion as a micro-system for triggering a Jan Andolan towards better health.
Shri Gopalakrishnan expressed his optimism on key reforms and initiatives being undertaken in the Health sector. He emphasized on the Digital Health initiative and highlighted its universal impact and applicability. He further stated that a lot of health issues can be resolved if people are informed well.
The Health Pavilion showcases various initiatives, schemes and achievements of the Union Health Ministry including the recently launched PM TB-Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, National Universal Immunisation Programme, FSSAI, NACO, AB PMJAY, NVBDCP, NHA. It also has various stalls for informative activities, life-saving skills, checking and screening for diabetes, anaemia, blood pressure, BMI etc.
8-Nov-2022: Indian Trade Service (ITS) officers conference - “Manthan 1.0” held in Kevadia
The first ever conference of Indian Trade Service Officers “Manthan 1.0” was held at Kevadia, Gujarat. The conference was conducted for brainstorming on future Foreign Trade Policy (FTP), and to formulate sector wise and state wise export strategy to boost exports from India. The officers also discussed ways to revamp the FTP Schemes to make it more efficient and address any implementation issues. Over 75 officers of the Indian Trade Service attended the conference.
Commerce Secretary, Shri Sunil Barthwal, while addressing the delegates, appreciated the initiative and expressed that such brainstorming sessions should be held regularly. He emphasised upon the importance of specializing in the specific area of international trade. He underlined the importance of institutional memory for any department and urged the trade service officers to specialise, and become more effective resource for the Department of Commerce. He also laid out the plans for deeper engagement of the cadre into FTA negotiations, industry deliberations and policy making.
Earlier, Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), while speaking to the officers, emphasized upon the importance of continuous learning and application on development of an officer. He also deliberated on the importance of formulating sector wise strategies aimed at specific markets. DGFT emphasised the importance of using latest trade analytics tools to understand the emerging international trade scenario. He explained that Sector-wise and State-wise export promotion strategies need sharper focus in coming years to achieve 1 Trillion USD of exports in merchandise, and 1 Trillion USD exports in services exports by 2030.
Indian Trade Service officers have recently been divided among 10 sector specific groups that focus on specific sectors of the industry, including goods, projects, and services. The teams are working to develop sector specific strategy in collaboration with experts, industrialists and export promotion councils. In addition, ITS officers have also been assigned different states to focus on creation of specific export promotion strategies for those states, and to understand bottlenecks and challenges about them. A sector wise export presentation on Pharma and Chemicals sectors was made by one such team in the conference.
A presentation on Global Trade Promotion Organization (GTPO) was also made. GTPO is a key recommendation of BCG consultancy in their report for revamping the Department of Commerce. ITS officers deliberated on the GTPO proposal and came up with ideas to further improve the recommendation. GTPO is expected to play a key role in future export promotion initiatives in the country. The proposed body would be manned by ITS officers at key positions.
28-Oct-2022: Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi to be Chief Guest at North East Geology & Mining Ministers’ Conclave, Nagaland
Union Minister of Mines, Coal and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Pralhad Joshi will be participating as the Chief guest in the first Northeast Geology & Mining Ministers’ Conclave being held at Niathu Resort, Chumukedima, Dimapur, Nagaland on 31st October, 2022.
In the first session of the conclave, discussions amongst different State ministers of the North Eastern States will be held. Deliberations will be mainly pertaining to mining and geological activities in the North Eastern states. In the second session, the course and gist of the deliberations will be presented to Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi for further action. The event will conclude with a cultural programme.
This conclave will prove to be an effective platform for discussing issues specific to the NE region. Ministry of Mines desires to encourage exploration activities and auction of mines in the mineral rich NE states which will ultimately lead to development of the region.
Ministry of Mines is constantly encouraging mineral exploration, geological and other mining activities all across the country. In line with these efforts, a National Mining Ministers’ Conference was held at Hyderabad in September this year to facilitate discussion amongst all the States on the issues pertaining to mining sector. During the conference a request was made to the chair to hold a conclave exclusively for the North East region and the Union Minister of Mines, Coal and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Pralhad Joshi agreed upon the same.