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National SARAS Mela 2026 opens in Vijayawada with 1,500+ rural women entrepreneurs

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National SARAS Mela 2026 opens today, 13 October, at Punnami Ghat in Vijayawada and runs until 31 October, the Ministry of Rural Development said. It brings together 1,500+ women from self-help groups across 30+ states and Union Territories.

National SARAS Mela 2026: Official Ministry of Rural Development poster for the mela (artwork, not a photograph)
Official Ministry of Rural Development poster for the mela (artwork, not a photograph) Photo: PIB (Government of India, free to use with credit).

What to see at National SARAS Mela 2026, the SARAS Aajeevika Mela

The fair showcases rural enterprises, traditional crafts, handloom products and regional food from self-help groups. It is organised with Andhra Pradesh’s Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP). It is the first national SARAS Mela to be held in Vijayawada.

Key Facts

  • Dates: 13-31 October 2026
  • Venue: Punnami Ghat, Vijayawada
  • Participants: 1,500+ SHG women from 30+ states/UTs
  • Inauguration: President Murmu, 15 October

President Murmu to inaugurate on 15 October

President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the mela on 15 October, with Governor S. Abdul Nazeer, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan expected, the ministry said. The New Indian Express also reported the President’s visit.

Self-help group women and the Lakhpati Didi goal

The event is part of the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission. It supports the government’s aim of creating 6 crore Lakhpati Didis, women in self-help groups who earn at least Rs 1 lakh a year.

Why It Matters: Fairs like SARAS give rural women sellers direct access to city buyers, which helps lift household incomes.

Also on TrendDesh: Global trade record: world trade hits $35 trillion in 2025, says UNCTAD · Gaza women entrepreneurs keep small businesses alive amid war damage, UNDP says

Source: PIB · The New Indian Express

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