State govt to organise Sabala Mela to promote Self Help Groups

In a bid to promote the produce of Self Help Groups, the state government will organise the 10-day long state-level Sabala Mela this year from December 2 at Central Park in Salt Lake.

Self Help Groups from different parts of the state and those who had initiated their business with the help of a financial assistance under Swami Vivekananda Swanirbhar Karmasangasthan Prakalpa would be setting their stalls in the fair.

According to an official, products starting from papad to handicrafts will be available in the fair. Besides organising the state-level Sabala Mela in Salt Lake, district level Sabala Mela is also organised in all the districts to promote the local artisans and Self Help Groups.

Sadhan Pande, the Self Help Group minister, said the budget to organise the fair has been increased for each district since last year from Rs 5 to Rs 10 lakh.

It helps the district authorities to organise the fair in a much better way.

At the same time since last year, two fairs were being organised at two different times in big districts including Burdwan, Murshidabad and East Midnapore.

In these districts, two fairs were organised at two different times in two sub-divisions so that more people can visit Sabala Mela without travelling a long distance. The fair has already started in Howrah district this year.

It may be mentioned that the state government provides the infrastructure support for the fairs and it provides a platform to the Self Help Groups to promote their produce. Besides getting an opportunity to sell their products, the fair provides a platform to the Self Help Groups and small-scale entrepreneurs to establish business links with wholesale traders for better sales of their goods.

Even many companies show interest in procuring their products to market it in a better way. It helps the members of the Self Help Groups to get a better price for their produce.

Moreover, Sabala Mela help the groups to market their produce in international markets as well.

Several people from abroad, WHO came for a trip to Kolkata, visit the fair in search of handicraft goods of Bengal. 

There would also be cultural programmes in the Sabala Mela to attract more people.  

The Sabala Mela also helps to create awareness among people about the schemes those were taken up the state government for the benefits of the self help groups and to make youth self employed.