Port Blair, June 04: In order to support SHG members for their economic activities, as per the direction of Ms. Veditha Reddy, IAS, Secretary, RD & Panchayat/ Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman, the Block Office of the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj with the enthusiastic support of the Gram Panchayat Mithakhari organized an SHG Mela at Community Hall, Ograbraj today. The Mela was inaugurated by Ms. Veditha Reddy, IAS, Secretary, RD & Panchayat/ Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman in the presence of Mrs. Aditya Kumar Asthana, Director, RD & Panchayat and PRI Members of Gram Panchayat Mithakhari, Namunaghar, Tushnabad & Collinpur.
Addressing the gathering, the Secretary (RD/Panchayat) informed that such Melas will be organized on regular basis at various locations in South Andaman District as well as in other Districts to support the SHG members. She applauded the works being done by the SHG members and encouraged them to enter into entrepreneurship with regular production. She assured the SHG members that the Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Department will help them to onboard GeM to get the benefit of the Government e-Marketing platform. She also informed the gathering that in the coming days, the Department will look for some suitable location at Port Blair where a regular market of SHGs could be set up and all SHG could be given a chance on rotational basis for sale of their items.
Thereafter, the Secretary (RD/Panchayat) along with Director (RD/Panchayat) and PRI members visited the stalls of SHG members and appreciated their efforts for production of various edible and handicraft items. The Secretary (RD/Panchayat) directed the team of RD Department to provide advanced training to SHG members for production of new and innovative handicraft items which could catch more market. For the SHG members who are involved in production of edible items, the Secretary requested the PRI members to encourage the general public of the areas to avail the catering services of SHGs during their family functions or parties.
A large gathering converged today at the SHG Mela where SHGs of Mithakhari, Namunaghar, Tushnabad & Collinpur participated. Today being the weekend, people from all ages were seen visiting the stalls put up by the SHG members at the venue. Majority of the visitors were attracted towards the stalls which were selling farm products and eatables. The members of the food stalls also made a brisk sale of their home made delicacies. The stalls were seen as overcrowded and the SHGs have received overwhelming response from the public.
Through the SHG Mela platform, the SHGs will be benefited by selling their products which will improve their economic status. The main motive of conducting the Mela is to provide a market for the SHGs where they can sell their products.
The SHG members expressed gratitude to the RD & Panchayat Department for organizing such Mela at regular intervals in each Gram Panchayats. The Department has assured to organize such Melas on a regular basis in upcoming weeks/months in order to provide a market to the SHGs of DAY-NRLM in the UT of A&N Islands.