From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Feb 23: In an effort to empower women and make them self-reliant, the State Government will be holding the National SARAS mela and mega national exhibition and trade fair from February 29 to March 9 at the National College ground in Bengaluru.

The logo for ‘Namma Saras Mela 2024 and Akka Café were unveiled on Friday in a ceremony at Vikasa Soudha attended by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, Skill Development and Livelihood Minister Dr Sharan Prakash Patil, MLAs S T Somashekar, Srinivas and senior officials.
Addressing the media after unveiling the logo, minister Dr Sharan Prakash Patil said the fair is being organised by the Skill Development and Livelihood department.

“This mega exhibition and trade fair under the National Livelihood Mission will be held from February 29 to March 9. The Saras mela is a national level programme and over 250 women self-help groups are expected to participate and exhibit their products in the fair,” Dr Patil said.
The minister said a wide variety of handicrafts and food products produced by self-help groups across Karnataka will be exhibited and well-known artistes will also perform.

“We are giving thrust to this fair as our government believes only women can bring changes," he said.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar will inaugurate the mela.

Mega Job Fair

Reiterating the state Government’s initiative to address unemployment, Dr Patil said that the upcoming mega job fair will help unemployed youths greatly.

“The arrangements for the two-day mega job fair at Palace Ground are in the final stage. The government’s aim is to help job aspirants who have completed degree, engineering, diploma, ITI and other job-oriented courses to find jobs as per their requirements under one roof,” the minister said,
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar announced that the government is looking for a permanent place for holding such exhibitions and trade fairs throughout the year in Bengaluru.

He said such programmes are being conducted under Brand Bengaluru mission.

Minister Dr Sharan Prakash Patil informed that women self-help groups from other states will set up 100 stalls while women from Karnataka will put up 150 stalls in the fair.