VIJAYAWADA, MAR 13
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Andhra Pradesh Regional Office announced that it is organising the NABARD Crafts Mela in Maris Stella Indoor Stadium, Pantakaluva Road, Vijayawada from Friday. This is the third consecutive year NABARD is holding this Mela, says a release.
The current edition of the crafts Mela has artisans or exhibitors from the States of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamilnadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Odisha. The various products available on sale are Handicrafts, Jute Products, Banana Fibre Products, Kalamkari Sarees, Venkatagiri Sarees, Value-added food products, Etikoppaka Toys, Kondapalli Toys, Artificial Jewellery, Bidri works, Wood Carvings and other handicrafts and handloom items.
Renowned Mridangam Artist and Padmashree Awardee Dandamudi Sumathi Ramamohana Rao inaugurated the crafts Mela on Friday in the presence of S K Jannawar, Chief General Manager NABARD and senior officials from Reserve Bank of India, State Bank of India and Union Bank of India. Sumathi, in her inaugural address, appreciated NABARD’s initiative towards development of the rural women. She exhorted the people of Vijayawada and surrounding areas to visit the exhibition and encourage the artisans.
Speaking on the occasion, Sudhir Kumar Jannawar, Chief General Manager said, “As a part of NABARD’s continuing support to rural artisans and handloom weavers, NABARD annually conducts Crafts Melas. It is aimed at providing a platform for rural artisans, handloom weavers, DWCRA Groups, Women SHGs, Farmer Producer Organisations to enable them to market their produce for enhanced livelihood.”
The Crafts Mela also provides the artisans a direct feedback of the consumer preferences so that they can improve their design and product quality on a continuous basis to attract more customers. Artisans who exhibit and sell their products from various States also use this opportunity to interact with one another, forge business relations to tap wider markets. This also works as an excellent platform where bulk-buyers can directly interact with the producers and place on-the-spot orders.
The event was attended by Sundaram Shankar, General Manager, Reserve Bank of India; Gundu Rao, General Manager, State Bank of India; Brahmananda Reddy, General Manager, Union Bank of India and Convenor SLBC and Kameswara Rao, Chairman, Chaitanya Godavari Grameena Bank; Dr. Sreenath Reddy, MD, APCOB.
The Exhibition-cum-Sale will continue up to 21st March 2021, following all COVID-19-related protocols
