Punjab Governor opens 3-day fair

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 17

Punjab Governor and UT Administrator VP Singh Badnore inaugurated NABKRAFT mela at Kisan Bhawan in Sector 35 here today. The three-day fair is being organised by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in collaboration with Markfed.

In the fair, rural artisans, self-help groups (SHGs) and farmer producers’ organisations (FPOs) from Punjab as well as several other states such as Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra have put around 60 stalls for exhibiting their various products.

The Governor, while inaugurating the NABKRAFT, took a round of all stalls and interacted with various participants. He appreciated various products and encouraged the artisans. He emphasised that in order to sustain the livelihoods of artisan and SHGs and encourage them, continuous market support is required and more such exhibitions and ‘melas’ need to be organised.

JPS Bindra, Chief General Manager, NABARD Punjab Regional Office, indicated that for the first time NABARD is organising an exclusive mela to promote artisans and FPOs.

He said the exhibition of products at NABKRAFT would provide necessary visibility, marketing opportunities and avenues.

The products being displayed include wooden inlay item, wooden art work, Dhokara handicraft from Odisha, tribal jewellery, wood carving, Angora shawls, leather work, white metal minakari work plates/utensils from MP, home decorative items, handmade applique work, coir work, handloom sarees, handmade wall hanging, handmade woollen clothes like muffler, caps, stolls, Lahauli socks, Kullawi shawls, handicraft makram dori decorative items, Phulkari from Punjab, Punjabi jutti, tweed & jute jackets, jute bags, jute items, organic products and various other items from above mentioned states.

Badnore appreciates products on display

The Governor took a round of all stalls and interacted with various participants. He appreciated various products and encouraged the artisans. He emphasised that in order to sustain the livelihoods of artisan and SHGs and encourage them, continuous market support is required and more such exhibitions and ‘melas’ need to be organised.