Jharkhand stall steals show at Delhi fair

RANCHI: Handicraft and silk products from the state got an overwhelming response from the visitors at the stalls in the Jharkhand pavilion at India International Trade Fair (IITF) in New Delhi.
Officials from the state industry department said this year the response has been better than in previous years. "Generally, sales pick up from the third or fourth day, but this year from the first day itself, almost all the stalls have started getting business," said an official.
Pavilion director D K Sharma said that handicraft products are getting maximum response from the visitors because of its unique blend of modern and traditional art. "On the very first day, handicraft products worth Rs 1.25 lakh were sold out. Stalls of terracotta, Kasi-Khajura grass products, Dokra art, tribal jewellery and herbal soap made by local artisans and products of Jharkhand Silk Textile and Handicraft Corporation Limited (Jharcraft) are also getting a good response," said Sharma. Jharcraft did a business of around Rs 80,000, setting a record of sorts on the first day itself.
Sources in Jharcraft said that last year they did a business of around Rs 3.5 crore, including bulk orders from foreign companies and export merchants. "Judging from the first day's record, we expect to do a business of not less than Rs 5 crore this year," said a source.
Besides handicrafts, the buyers are also going for Tasar silk, another speciality of Jharkhand. "It is an organic product and is, therefore, attracting a large number of buyers. If morning shows the day, then we can safely assume that silk stalls will do a roaring business this year," he added.