AGARTALA, January 3 (TIWN): The 10th Regional SARAS Fair, 2015 was inaugurated by Minister for Power, Transport, Urban Development and Rural Development (Panchayat) Manik Dey at Hapania international fair ground, here today. The fair will continue till January 15.

Addressing in the inaugural ceremony Manik Dey said that the Tripura government had mooted the idea of organizing SARAS fair to encourage self-help groups a few years ago but this has now emerged as a major trading event in the state.

Manik Dey stressed on the need of good packaging and quality assurance of SHG products and asked them to go for local demand-based production.

He also pointed out that to facilitate self-employment opportunity and upgrade the skill of poor section of the society.

''Tripura is the first state in the Northeast which has coined the idea under state supported project to develop small scale industries as well as to eradicate poverty,'' said Dey.

The main objective of the project is to ensure income generation activity and eradicate poverty in the state and at the same time, the SHGs would be mobilized for developing small scale industry, Manik Dey added.

As many as 65 SHGs from the Northeastern states as well as Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa participated in the fair.  

It is to be mentioned here that around 64 stalls from Kolkata backtracked.

A vast variety of exquisite, traditional artifacts by more than 300 artisans and craftsperson from 10 states attracted a steady stream of visitors on the inaugural day. The visitors at the fair seemed delighted with the collection on display.

Handicrafts, textiles and decorative objects were the highlight of the fair as visitors thronged the apparels and showpieces sections as well.