Varanasi/Lucknow: The 11-day Regional (National-Level) Saras Mela concluded on a grand note at Sampurnanand Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya, reaffirming the state’s commitment to women’s economic empowerment and the vision of a developed India.
Addressing the closing ceremony, Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said, “When a woman is empowered, the family, society, and the nation become empowered. The sisters of self-help groups have proved that with the right opportunities and platform, they can play a leading role in building an Atmanirbhar Bharat and a Viksit Bharat.”
Women at the Heart of Rural Economy
The Deputy Chief Minister emphasized that the state government has placed women’s empowerment and self-reliance at the top of its priorities. Women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) showcased a wide range of products at the fair, including decorative items, food products, brass crafts, pickles and preserves, leather goods, artificial jewellery, textiles, carpets, jute, and moonj products.
Their impressive sales performance demonstrated that women form the backbone of the rural economy. He called upon SHGs to expand their membership and work toward making one crore women in the state “Lakhpati Didis,” with a long-term goal of transforming them into “Crorepati Women,” thereby strengthening the foundation of a self-reliant and developed India.
Financial Assistance of ₹10.60 Crore Distributed
During the event, certificates were presented to two “Bima Sakhis” from Varanasi—Meena Devi and Pratibha Devi—and two Lakhpati women, Sharmila Devi and Laxmi Verma, in recognition of their achievements.
A total financial assistance of ₹10 crore 60 lakh 50 thousand was symbolically distributed. Community Investment Funds were provided to 703 groups, while 20 groups received Revolving Fund support. Additionally, e-rickshaws were distributed to women from two groups to enhance their livelihood opportunities.
Awards and Workshops
For highest sales at the fair, a group from Lakhimpur Kheri district received the first prize, while Mirzapur district secured the second position. The Malik Mardan Shah Group from Ghazipur was awarded for best stall decoration.
The Deputy Chief Minister visited various stalls, interacted with the participants, and appreciated the Food Court operated under the livelihood mission. A special workshop on packaging, branding, and marketing was also organized to enhance product quality and market competitiveness.
Commitment to Continued Support
The event was attended by Mayor Ashok Tiwari, District Panchayat Chairperson Poonam Maurya, Legislative Council Members Hansraj Vishwakarma and Dharmendra Singh, former Mayor Kaushalendra Singh, along with other public representatives, officials, and a large number of SHG women.
Deputy CM Maurya announced that Saras Melas would continue to be organized in the future, enabling women from different districts and states to learn from one another and scale their enterprises to new heights. He lauded the hard work, innovation, and quality demonstrated by the women, stating that the path to the state’s progress runs through women’s economic participation.
The grand conclusion of the Saras Mela stood as a powerful testament to women-led development and the transformative potential of self-help groups in shaping a prosperous India.
