Grand launch of NABARD sponsored “Gondwana National Livelihood, Art and Cultural Festival 2023”
120 stalls and 250 participants from different states are participating in the exhibition
Raipur, 28 March .
Yesterday, Agriculture Minister Shri Ravindra Choubey formally inaugurated the four-day “Gondwana National Livelihood, Art, and Culture Festival 2023” at BTI Ground in Shankar Nagar Raipur. Chhattisgarh Regional Office of NABARD is hosting this event from March 27 to March 30.
NABARD has sponsored 120 stalls during the expo, which has 250 participants, including NABARD-supported self-help groups, FPOs, and craftsmen from the non-agricultural sector. 125 participants from different districts of Chhattisgarh, as well as about 125 participants from other 15 states of the country- Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, and Haryana, are participating in the exhibition. Apart from this, 125 farmers and artisans from 5 districts of the state have also been invited on exposure visits.
While speaking at the inauguration occasion, Agriculture Minister Shri Ravindra Choubey commended NABARD’s achievements in agricultural and rural development in the state. He stated that such activities would be beneficial in promoting tribal and cultural traditions. Rural cottage businesses and handicrafts will benefit from the organization of this exhibition, as will employment chances.
In addition to this, Chairman of Apex Bank Mr. Baijnath Chandrakar said that in this national fair of NABARD, stalls have been set up for the exhibition and sale of items manufactured by rural artisans, weavers, self-help groups, farmers from Chhattisgarh as well as other states. NABARD also organizes training programs from time to time to encourage such craftsmen and artisans.
Chief General Manager of NABARD, Dr. Gyanendra Mani, stated about the significance of the ‘Gondwana National Livelihood, Art, and Culture Festival 2023’ and emphasized that NABARD is playing a vital role in making rural India self-sufficient. Its goal is to give a forum for the display and sale of various items made by NABARD-supported Self Help Groups, Artisans, Producer Organizations, Handlooms, and Handicraftsmen in rural areas. He explained that, in addition to the stalls in the exhibition, there is a ‘Kid Zone’ and a ‘Food Court’. Every day of the fair, cultural programs will be organised.
On this occasion, MLA and Chairman of Chhattisgarh Housing Board Mr. Kuldeep Juneja, MLA Mr. Ramkumar Yadav, Advisor to Chief Minister Mr. Pradeep Sharma, Raipur Municipal Corporation Mayor Mr. Aijaz Dhebar, Vice Chancellor Dr. RS Kuril, NABARD General Manager Dr. Surendra Babu, Convener SLBC at the inauguration ceremony, Chairman Chhattisgarh Gramin Bank, Shri Karnal Chand, Assistant Directors and officials from Govt were present.
