Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 01 2009:
A 10 day regional Saras fair was opened today at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen, Palace Compound with Youth Affairs and Sports Minister N Biren as chief guest.
The fair is being organised jointly by Rural Development Department and District Rural Development Agency, Imphal East.
Altogether 124 Self Help Groups coming from different districts and 30 individuals are showcasing and selling different products.
Speaking at the occasion, N Biren said that the fair would certainly help in mitigating the problem of absence of markets for different products produced by SHGs.
Noting the problems caused by unavailability of proper markets even as different products are produced abundantly, Biren mooted organising such fairs twice in a year instead of only once in year as is being done now.
He also appealed to cultivate the habit of paying loans in time.
MLA Dr Ng Bijoy urged for a proper market policy so that products produced by SHGs can be marketed round the year instead of giving such opportunity only for a day or two in a year.