Agartala, Nov 18, 2022, TRIPURATIMES Desk

Agartala, Nov 18: Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha has inaugurated twelve-day long 17th Regional Saras Fair at Hapania International Fair Ground on Friday.

This year, around 350 stalls—323 from Self Help Groups participated in the Saras Fair that will continue toll November 30 next.

The Fair organized by Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission under Rural Development department is exhibiting beautifully crafted handloom waves and handmade products by rural artisans.

Addressing the programme, the Chief Minister said, around 50 percent of the total population is women. But, no previous government or leader thought of making the women swanirbhar before Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister.

Poking at the previous left front government, the Chief Minister said, the previous government could produce factory of eloquent big mouths; may be, we are not that eloquent to lead the people to the garden path but we believe in works.

The Chief Minister drew a comparison about the growth of the rural women during the tenure of the previous government and the tenure of the present government.

He said, “There were only 39,824 women members in 4153 Self Help Groups till 2018-19. After formation of the new government in 2018, the number of SHGs has increased to 38,657 with involvement of 3,45,000 rural women.”

The Chief Minister also spoke about the other major initiatives taken by the present state government for the welfare of the women.

Mayor of Agartala Municipal Corporation Dipak Majumder, Badharghat MLa Mimi Majumder, Rural Development secretary Sandeep Rathod, TRLM CEO Smitha Mol, West Tripura District Magistrate Debapriya Bardhan and others were present in the inaugural ceremony.

The Chief Minister along with others inspected the stalls opened in the Saras Mela by the SHGs and various government departments.