Dehradun: The Saras Livelihood Fair was organized in Rishikesh, the world’s yoga city, to increase people’s income through economic activities. At the fair, CM Dhami inaugurated 12 economic activities worth ₹1.20 crore for the National Rural Livelihood Mission’s Cluster Level Federation (CLF). He also laid the foundation stone for proposed economic activities worth ₹1 crore for 10 other CLFs.
The Saras Livelihood Fair was organized in Rishikesh by the Rural Development Department and the District Administration under the Gramothan Project. Addressing the self-help groups and rural entrepreneurs present at the fair, Chief Minister Dhami said, “This fair is a unique effort to showcase the rich cultural traditions, skills, and entrepreneurship of our rural areas.” While livelihood fairs provide an excellent platform to showcase local products, they also help realize the Prime Minister’s mantra of “Self-reliant India and Vocal for Local.” Through such fairs, we are striving to connect rural artisans, women self-help groups, handicraftsmen, rural entrepreneurs, as well as agricultural products and rural skills with national and international markets. -Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami
He said that the stalls set up by self-help groups at this fair are furthering the message of “adopt swadeshi,” in which we pledge to prioritize products made in our village, our state, and our country. The Chief Minister said that when we purchase swadeshi products, it is not just a purchase of a product, but an investment in the dreams of our rural artisans, women, and entrepreneurs. Therefore, adopting swadeshi not only keeps our culture and tradition alive, but also secures the livelihoods of our farmers, handicraftsmen, and local entrepreneurs.
Inauguration of 12 economic activities worth Rs 1.20 crore for CLF. (PHOTO- ETV Bharat)
Adopt Swadeshi Campaign: CM Dhami said, “The Prime Minister has said that the foundation of a self-reliant India rests on Swadeshi. This fair is a strong step in that direction, which will serve as a means of gaining national and international recognition for our local products. Our women were the first to embrace this Prime Minister’s call, and today, the Didi’s of our self-help groups are giving new dimensions to Swadeshi products through their labor and skills. I appeal to all of you to strengthen the Adopt Swadeshi campaign and empower women economically by purchasing Swadeshi products from the stalls set up at this fair. When a woman is economically empowered, she empowers not only her family but the entire society.
More than 1.66 lakh Didi’s become lakhpatis: CM Dhami said that under the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ scheme, more than 1.65 lakh women in our state have achieved the distinction of becoming lakhpatis so far. Additionally, under the “Chief Minister’s Empowered Sisters Festival” scheme, women set up nearly 2,000 stalls and marketed approximately ₹5.5 crore, setting a new example of entrepreneurship. Furthermore, through the government-launched House of Himalayas brand, various local products produced by our sisters are now reaching every corner of the world. Under the Rural Livelihood Mission, over 68,000 self-help groups with over 500,000 members have been established in the state, along with over 7,500 village organizations and 534 cluster-level organizations.
The government is also committed to empowering women farmers. Under the Farm Livelihood and Women Farmer Empowerment Scheme, we have developed the capacity and skills of over 300,000 women farmers in the state. Additionally, we have established 2.500 agri-nutri gardens and kitchen gardens and provided approximately 500 farm machinery banks. Not only this, the government is also working to connect more than 5,000 women farmers in the state with organic farming. Through all these efforts, the economic status of women in our state has improved. Today, women are writing a new story of self-reliance, which is clearly reflected in this Saras Mela.
