Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the annual Adivasi Mela and Sanskrutika Utsav-2023 on Monday evening.
Total 121 stalls have been opened in in the Adivasi Mela this year to display and sell authentic products. In the Adivasi Haat, various tribal and forest products are available for sale. Women SHG of ITDA and Micro Projects are selling the products made by them.
Tribal women in 62 ITDA stalls are selling the products collected and produced by them, while 17 stalls of micro projects have been allotted to SHG women. Besides, TDCC, OFSDS, Mission Shakti, ORMAS, Millet Mission, Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Department, Planning and Convergence Department have put up their products in 23 stalls.
In order to make the visitors feel the tribal atmosphere of remote parts of the state, 10 PVTG houses have been constructed at the exhibition. These houses have thatched and tile roofs while the walls hves been painted with tribal art.
Various cultural programmes and tribal dance have been lined up for every evening. The Adivasi Mela will continue for 10 days till March 1.
Among others, Jagannath Saraka, Minister of ST & SC Development; Pradeep Majhi, Advisor, Special Development Council; Bhubaneswar mayor Sulochana Das; Advisor to CM R Balkrishnan; Secretary (5-T) VK Pandian; Secretary, STSC Development Department Roopa Roshan Sahoo; Director, SCSTRTI and Member Secretary, ATLC Indramani Tripathy; Programme Director, OPELIP P Arthanaree were present at the inaugural function.
It may be noted that Adivasi Mela registers 8-10 lakh footfall every year and makes business transaction worth Rs 5-6 crore. People from Bhubaneswar and its adjoining areas besides neighbouring states also visit the mela to purchase authentic products like turmeric, millet, moong, black gram, corn, rice, honey and other items.
