Bhubaneswar: Sisir Saras Mela-2024 in Bhubaneswar, which concluded on Tuesday, generated a business of more than Rs 14 crore.
Minister of Women and Child Development and Mission Shakti Basanti Hembram visited the Mela, organised by ORMAS under the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department, on the concluding day. Pradeep Kumar Jena, Chief Secretary; Sushil Kumar Lohani, Principal Secretary, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water department and Guha Poonam Tapas Kumar, Director-cum-CEO, ORMAS were also present.
The Mela was opened at Biju Patnaik Playground in Baramunda on January 6. It saw participation from 26 states, including Odisha, and showcased handloom, handicrafts and food items in over 400 stalls.
During the 10-day Mela, total business of over Rs 14 crore was conducted. Madan Mohan Handloom of Jajpur district in Odisha and Chhatishgarh’s Nari Shakti (Kosa Silk) emerged as the highest sellers.
They were felicitated by ORMAS with mementos and certificates during the concluding ceremony. Moreover, the stalls were felicitated in the categories of Best Innovative Product, Best Display and Best Participants.
Basudha stall by PR&DW Department, Mo Khata & Clean City by BMC, SDGs stall by Planning and Convergence Department and OMBADC were felicitated in the best IEC stall display and activities category.
Similarly, ORMAS Nabarangpur for Mukhya Mantri Maka Mission, Mission Shakti RIPC of Ganjam, rubber from Mayurbhanj, lemon grass from Koraput and pineapple products from Rayagada were also felicitated for best display of the scheme in the Theme Pavilion of ORMAS.
In the women empowerment dimension, the Mela provided a significant platform for rural women entrepreneurs. It would help them improve their economic and social status and create opportunities for their introduction in national and international markets, the dignitaries on the concluding day said.
