The 10-day Regional Saras Fair, 2020 organized by the Manipur State Rural Livelihoods Mission (MSRLM) under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission is underway at the Hapta Kangjeibung in Imphal East district.
Altogether 106 stalls including six stalls of offices are opened in the fair.
Manipur rural development and panchayati raj minister Thongam Biswajit Singh, chairman Dr Radheshyam Yumnam of MANITRON & MANIDCO, chairman L Radhakishore Singh of Manipur State Khadi Village Industries Board and chairman Sorokhaibam Rajen Singh of Manipur Handloom & Handicraft Development Corporation Ltd were present during the formal inauguration of the fair.
Speaking on the occasion, minister Biswajit announced that the fair will be held twice a year from this year as the fair couldn’t be conducted twice in the previous years due to lack of man-power, financial constraints.
Stating that the MSRLM is currently implemented in some blocks of Tengnoupal and Imphal East, he also asked the concerned officials to check whether blocks can be clubbed together for inclusive implementation of the Mission in the State.
In his speech, MANITRON & MANIDCO Chairman Dr Radheshyam said that the fair provides a marketing platform for the artisans as well as encourage and promote them. This fair also provides a platform for the artisans to exchange ideas.
On the other hand, Khadi Board Chairman Radhakishore said that the Board has initiated cotton plantation in Jiribam this year with the hope of reviving the State’s Spinning Mill adding that they are also going to take up coffee plantation in the hills as an alternative to poppy plantation.
Additional chief secretary M H Khan, state mission director Yumnam Robita of MSRLM also attended the function.