the goan I network
PANAJI
Promoting the feeling of national integration and providing a platform for the self-help groups and artisans to spend time together, the annual event SARAS is beginning in Goa on January 23. The fair will continue for 12 days, till February 3 at the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) ground in Margao from 9.30 am to 9 pm.
SARAS 2019-20 will have around 250 artisans coming from all over India. Apart from the display of art objects, there will be various competitions too, such as magic show, fancy dress competition for kids and other entertainment programmes on all days in the evenings to enhance public participation. Announcing this at a media briefing in Panaji, Rural Development minister Michael Lobo, pointed out that the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) of South Goa, organizes SARAS every year with the intention to promote SHGs and artisans and offers them a platform to display their artistic talents and earn.
Pointing out that during the last SARAS, the SHG members and artisans from Goa earned an income of Rs 1.30 crore, Lobo expressed hope that majority of the SHG members will succeed in earning a sizable profit from the sales this year too. Announcing a breather for the women artisans in Goa, the minister said, “We are planning to create a permanent platform for women and artisans in Goa and the revival of this proposal will be done within 15 days, beginning with North Goa first, as the land has already been zeroed on. Offering a monthly amount of Rs 1,500 to housewives is not enough, as they wish to earn more, and those who have potential can earn even Rs 15,000-20,000 a month through their artistic talent. The Rural Development Department feels that these women should be offered a permanent platform to showcase their talent and art, and thereby earn livelihood.”
The minister added, “The Centre has already sanctioned and issued Rs 12 crore for the purpose, but this amount is lying with the State government, unutilised. We haven’t returned this fund as yet, and we plan to utilize it soon, by reviving the department and increasing staff strength. We wish to review, revive and streamline the department.”
It is an exclusive event where the SHG members pool their financial resources together and earn income by sharing the profits, keeping in minds the focus of National Rural Livelihood Mission Programme (Streeshakti). SARAS also gives an opportunity to the staff of DRDA to display their organizational skills and interact with SHG members as well as to create a feeling of fellowship and togetherness among themselves, said Lobo.
The government of India provides financial support of Rs 35 lakhs for organizing the SARAS fair and the expenditure incurred over and above the sanctioned amount is met from the state funds. SARAS is being organized in other states too where the Rural Development Agency sends artisans from Goa to other states to display their items and earn their income.
SARAS is being organized by the DRDA, South Goa under the supervision of the project director, Meena Naik Goltekar, project director DRDA-South and project director & Ex-officio joint secretary (Rural Development), DRDA-North, Sanjit Rodrigues and with the active participation and support of the officers and staff of DRDA South Goa,
The fair will be inaugurated at the hands of Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant in the presence of Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar, Deputy Chief Minister, Digamber Kamat, MLA, Margao constituency, Vijay Sardessai, MLA, Fatorda constituency, Pooja Naik, chairperson, Margao Municipal Council and South Goa Zilla Parishad president Navnath Naik and others.
