SHGs showcase ware at rural carnival

Rural Development Minister Jayant Patil on Thursday inaugurated Bhimthadi Jatra,the annual rural carnival organised by the Agricultural Development Trust,Baramati. The four-day festival will have 265 stalls from women’s self-help groups (SHGs) from Maharashtra and 16 other states. Agriculture and State School Education Minister Balasaheb Thorat,Baramati MP Supriya Sule,Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal and dignitaries were also present at the function. Commending the efforts of various SHGs,Patil said,“In the last five years that this fest is being organised,SHGs have come a long way. Now we need to become more market savvy and commercialise their products. This will help them gain recognition not only in India but also abroad. We need to learn from the SHGs of Bangladesh that have made the concept of Grameen Bank into a reality.”

He also said women in SHGs need to explore ways to give fine finish to handicrafts for which technical skills need to be developed. He said he was planning to take the first step in this direction and organise a trip for representatives of SHGs to expose them to art and techniques of countries such as Thailand,Indonesia and Vietnam. Sule appreciated some SHGs for packaging their products so well that they can now be seen in supermarkets. She urged Patil to consider making loans available to women’s SHGs at 0 per cent interest rates.

Handicrafts stalls showcased fine silk works,dress materials as well as readymade wear,warli paintings,clay diyas,candles and torans and other decorations for Diwali. People were seen making a beeline for about 65 food stalls. The biggest crowds were to be seen at a stall run by a group of 10 women from Jalgaon as they making almost double the normal size Puran Polis.