With help of district administration, self-help groups to organise “diwali mela”

Ludhiana, October 21, 2019: In a bid to promote Rural Self Help Groups, the District Administration Ludhiana had started an innovative venture, wherein a weekly “Bazaar” is being set up by these groups in District Administrative Complex (DAC), here. Now, these self help groups would also be selling products related to Diwali and other festivals. That is why, a Diwali Mela would be organised in the DAC Ludhiana from October 22-26, 2019, where the self help groups would be able to sell diya’s, cloth based carry bags, organic products, besides other materials. The Diwali Mela at DAC Ludhiana would be inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner Mr Pradeep Kumar Agrawal on October 22, 2019. While providing information, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Mrs Amrit Singh informed that at this Diwali Mela, the members of rural Self Help Groups will be able to sell their produce directly without any middleman. She informed that different self help groups registered with departments such as DRDA, Atma, NABARD, NRLM, Agriculture, would be selling their products in this Diwali Mela. Mrs Amrit Singh informed that these products would include Diya’s, candles, organic spices, teddy bears, woollen clothes, bakery products, pickles, jellies, cloth based carry bags, amla candy, chawanprash, herbal tea, muffins, jaggery (gur), cake, shakkar, honey, pulses, besides several others. She further stated that this Diwali Mela is being sponsored by ICICI Bank and the cloth based carry bags manufactured at Skill Development Centres would be provided to these shopkeepers free of cost. A total of 12 different stalls would be set up on the occasion. It is pertinent to mention that to promote Rural Self Help Groups, the District Administration Ludhiana has started an innovative venture, wherein a weekly “Bazaar” is being set by these groups in District Administrative Complex, here on every Saturday of the month. Mrs Amrit Singh has appealed to the city residents to attend this Diwali Mela in large numbers so that the self help groups and rural shopkeepers can be promoted. Mr Avtar Singh, Assistant Project Officer (M), office of ADC (D), besides others were also present on the occasion.