Exhibition on products produced by self-help groups begins

New Delhi, April 14 : A 10-day 'Aajeevika Mela' organised to promote exhibition and sale of products produced by self-help groups (SHGs) from different parts of the country was inaugurated here on Friday.

Under the aegis of the Ministry of Rural Development, national consultation with SHG women of all states and union territories was also held on "transforming lives through livelihoods thrust and strategy for poverty-free gram panchayats".

About 3,500 SHG women participated in the consultation. 

As many as 500 stalls have been set up in the exhibition, open till April 23 at Hall No. 18 at the Pragati Maidan. 

Ministry Sectretary Amarjeet Sinha inaugurated the consultation and the mela. 

About 23 SHG members from 12 states, who have come out of poverty and overcome multiple obstacles, shared their experiences on the occasion, a ministry statement said. 

"The fair has showcased a wide range of handlooms, handicraft, artefacts, heritage products, fashion and beauty articles, cane and bamboo products, tribal ornaments, and metallic products," read the statement.

"The special attraction of this mela are metal products from Madhya Pradesh, Sambalpuri sarees from Odisha, wood carvings from Andhra Pradesh, bamboo products from Tripura, Madhubani paintings from Bihar, terrakota from Chhattisgarh, shawls and carpets from Jammu and Kashmir, handicraft from Uttar Pradesh, tribal jewellery from Jharkhand, and handlooms from northeastern states," it added.