THE PURPOSE OF COMING TO BIHAR IS TO WITNESS THE SUCCESS OF ‘JEEVIKA DIDIs: KARMA YOUNGH ZOOM

THE PURPOSE OF COMING TO BIHAR IS TO WITNESS THE SUCCESS OF ‘JEEVIKA DIDIs: KARMA YOUNGH ZOOM

17-SEP-ENG 5

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA---------------------------The Bihar Saras Mela, held at Gyan Bhawan, Patna, is organized to promote rural entrepreneurship and crafts and provide a larger market. Visitors to this fair are familiarizing themselves with centuries-old crafts and folk art, and are shopping for the decoration of their homes and shops, as well as for their needs. Both buyers and sellers await the Saras Mela. The Bihar Saras Mela is showcased nationally and has its own distinct identity. Therefore, it is organized twice annually in Bihar by Jeevika. This year's edition is the first.

The most significant feature of this fair in Bihar is that women associated with self-help groups come here to witness each other's struggles and successes. Women associated with self-help groups are participating in the Saras Mela as skilled entrepreneurs and share stories of how they took their enterprises to the pinnacle of success. Whenever they get a chance, they visit each other's stalls to learn about their handicrafts, traditions, folk art, and branding, and then implement them at their own place.

Karma Young Zoom, from Kabi district in Sikkim, has come to Bihar for the first time with her colleague, Dicky. She has been associated with the Lotus Jeevika Women's Support Group since 2016 and sells soaps, perfumes, and juices made from medicinal flowers and leaves. She has made soaps and perfumes from rhododendron flowers, which bloom only 15 days a year in April. She also sells soaps and medicinal juices from the bark of the mugwort plant. As part of her handicrafts, she also sells purses and bottle covers made from PP yarn. Karma Young Zoom explains that her purpose in coming to Bihar was to observe the success of the Jeevika sisters of Bihar, learn from them, and gain information about the handicrafts and folk art here. Karma Young Zoom set up her stall with her female colleague, Dicky. By entrusting their work to one or another, they spend the entire day learning the tricks of business management and success from one Jeevika Didi or another.

Karma Young Zoom is delighted to be in Bihar and explains that Bihar's crafts and culture are rich, and that the taste of litti-chokha and pickles is excellent. According to her, the Saras Mela is a great platform to learn business management. Like Karma Young Zoom, women entrepreneurs from self-help groups from other states interact with each other's products and are delighted to meet each other. Rural women, who have emerged from poverty and become economically and socially empowered with Jeevika's support, guidance, training, and financial assistance, are present at the Sustainable Livelihoods Scheme stalls with their own handmade artworks. Rural women are present at all 130 stalls as skilled entrepreneurs and are also promoting cashless shopping.

The Bihar Saras Mela is being organized by Jeevika under the aegis of the Rural Development Department for ten days, starting September 12th. The fair, held until September 25th, is introducing visitors as well as rural entrepreneurs from self-help groups from 22 states across the country to each other's civilization, culture, taste, and interaction. Entry to the fair is free.

On Monday, a large number of people attended the Saras Mela, shopping for their favorite products and enjoying local dishes and sweets from various regions at Didi Ki Rasoi and other food stalls.

For the convenience of buyers and sellers, Jeevika Didis are also operating two customer service centers, where deposits and withdrawals are available.

Selfie zones, toys, and artificial flower stalls are special attractions.

On Sunday, products and dishes worth over 26.52 lakh rupees were bought and sold. The Bihar Saras Mela, which began on September 12th, has seen sales of over 77 lakh rupees in three days.