SARAS exhibition to feature over 350 product stalls of women SHGs

Nagpur: Women self-help groups (bachat gats) from across Maharashtra will showcase their products at over 350 stalls during the Mahalaxmi SARAS Goods and Sales Exhibition at Reshimbagh ground from March 11 to 23 at Reshimbagh. Majority of the groups will be from Nagpur as well as Raigad, Ratnagiri and Amravati districts. Around 110 stalls will be related to food items. Addressing a press conference on Monday, Zilla Parishad chief executive officer Vinayak Mahamuni said the exhibition, organised by the Maharashtra State Rural Livelihood Mission and Nagpur ZP, said, "Nagpur district alone has nearly 17,000 self-help groups which prepare items such as pickles, food products, handicrafts, paintings and handloom products, but often struggle to find a consistent market for their goods. This is where SARAS steps in."Registration of participants will begin on March 10. The inaugural ceremony scheduled at 10.30am on March 11 will feature prominent women personalities from Nagpur. "We have invited Kanchan Gadkari, Amruta Fadnavis, and divisional commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari," Mahamuni said.A village-themed area will highlight rural life, while a technology zone will showcase information through virtual reality and augmented reality displays. A dedicated children's zone will also be set up near the food stalls.