This evening, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik launched the Adivasi Mela and Sanskrutika Utsav-2023. Mayor Sulochana Das, Advisor to CM R Balkrishnan, Secretary (5-T) VK Pandian, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, STSC Development Department Roopa Roshan Sahoo, Director, SCSTRTI and Member Secretary, ATLC Indramani Tripathy, and Programme Director, OPELIP P Arthanaree were present at the inaugural ceremony.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister paid a visit to the Adivasi Mela’s Art and Craft Sector. The sole purpose of Adivasi Mela has been to promote Adivasi (ST) art, culture, and tradition, as well as to market their authentic tribal products. This year’s Adivasi Mela will run for ten days, until March 1st.
The main attraction of this year’s Adivasi Mela will be 121 stalls selling and displaying authentic products. Ten PVTG houses have been built. These will allow visitors to experience the tribal atmosphere of remote parts of the state. These houses have thatched and tile roofs, as well as jhoti-painted walls.
Banana trees with bunches of plantains in the house compounds, as well as large pumpkins and goats hanging from roofs, have added to the allure. The house models reflect tradition as well as development.
The Adivasi Haat sells a variety of tribal and forest products. ITDA Women SHGs and Micro Projects sell products made by them and produced in the forest.
Tribal women sell their collected and produced goods at 62 ITDA stalls. SHG women have been assigned 17 microproject stalls.
Aside from that, 23 stalls are selling and displaying products from TDCC, OFSDS, Mission Shakti, ORMAS, Millet Mission, Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Department, and Planning and Convergence Department.
Every evening during the exhibition, there will be a cultural program and tribal dance. It is worth noting that the Adivasi Mela attracts 8 to 10 lakh visitors each year, with a business turnover of 5 to 6 crores. The mela attracts visitors from Bhubaneswar and surrounding areas, as well as from neighboring states. They buy food and forest products such as turmeric, millet, mong, blackgram, corn, and Basmati rice, honey, broom stick, palua etc for one year.
In the Adivasi Mela, all necessary police and security arrangements have been made. Closed-circuit television has been installed in the Mela premises. It is monitored by the control room and the main control room. On Corona, an awareness message is displayed to alert people.
There is a Fast Aid Camp, a Temporary Fire Brigade, and an Electricity Control Room, among other things. There are fire extinguishers available in various areas of the Mela. The necessary preparations have been made to visit, purchase, and enjoy the cultural programs.
Source:OCN