The Union Secretary of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Shri Sudhansh Pant is visiting the ongoing Nine Days SHILP SAMAGAM MELA 2026 at Mysuru in Karnataka tomorrow. The Mela is being organized by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

The Secretary is also taking comprehensive review of the Ministry’s Schemes, Programmes and Initiatives under implementation along with Site Visits in Mysuru.

A Senior Official in the Ministry said the Mela is underway at the Mysuru Dasara Exhibition Grounds in Mysuru, since October 11. The Mela will conclude on October 19 Monday.

He said the Mela provides a marketing platform for artisans and beneficiaries from Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Safai Karamcharis, enabling them to showcase their traditional handicrafts, handloom products and other goods to a wider audience.

The Official said the Mela has been jointly organized by three national corporations under the Ministry namely National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC), the National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) and the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC), which provide financial assistance to artisans and eligible beneficiaries.

The ongoing Mela features 83 stalls, including 80 stalls allotted to artisans, among them 37 women artisans. Artisans from 12 States and Union Territories, including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Puducherry, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, are participating in the exhibition.

The stalls feature with a diverse range of products, including handicrafts, handloom sarees, spices, pickles, incense sticks, honey products, block-printed items, leather goods, wooden toys, bags, purses, terracotta products, artificial jewellery, rosewood wall hangings, and bed and cushion covers. He also visited the Food stalls serving traditional delicacies adding to the visitor experience.

The Mela is designed to strengthen market linkages for artisans, promote traditional craftsmanship and create sustainable livelihood opportunities. Through direct interaction with visitors and prospective customers, participating artisans can display their products, expand their customer base and improve the market reach of their enterprises. The initiative also promotes India’s rich cultural heritage and supports the preservation of traditional art forms and skills.

The SHILP SAMAGAM MELA 2026 will continue at the Mysuru Dasara Exhibition Grounds until October 19 Monday, offering visitors an opportunity to explore India’s traditional crafts and handloom products while supporting the livelihoods of artisans. Through such initiatives, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment continues to strengthen market access, encourage entrepreneurship and advance the economic empowerment of disadvantaged communities.

The MELA also serves as an important platform for disseminating information about the schemes and programmes of the Ministry and its three national corporations, helping eligible beneficiaries learn about available financial assistance and entrepreneurship opportunities.

The Ministry facilitates artisans’ participation by providing free stalls and support towards travel expenses, daily allowance, transportation of goods and meals, in accordance with the applicable arrangements.

In addition to the Mela, the Ministry is promoting the BHARAT TULIP (Traditional Artisans’ Upliftment Livelihood Programme) initiative to expand market access for products made by target-group artisans through digital platforms in India and abroad. Branding products under BHARAT TULIP is intended to improve their visibility, facilitate online sales and connect traditional artisans with a wider customer base.

The Ministry has been organizing Shilp Samagam Melas since 2022, benefiting 975 artisans through 13 fairs held so far.

The ongoing Mysuru edition is the first Shilp Samagam Mela of the financial year 2026–27.

The Ministry also proposes to organize additional fairs in Guwahati (Oct 21 to 28, 2026); Dilli Haat in New Delhi, Jodhpur and Lucknow during the current financial year, alongside participation in major exhibitions such as the India International Trade Fair 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from November 14 to 27, 2026, and the Surajkund Mela in February 2027.

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PR-170-TAR/KV/GA/RK

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