Shena Aggarwal IAS Nodal officer of SARAS
Bathinda: 25 October, 2016: The SARAS 2016 Mela ends in a big triumph on Tuesday. The event has been proved to be a success in all the terms. It had been successful in fetching huge crowds since its beginning on 14th October. More than three lakh tickets has been sold in 12 days and artisans have collected near around Rs 2.50 Crore in the account of selling material on their stalls. The event has attracted an audience of almost 5 lakh people in the 12 day long journey. Around 190 Artisans from the 20 states of the country participated in the event. They have set up 345 stalls to sell their items, which have attracted large number of customers.
It was the efforts and strong lobbying done by the Deputy Commissioner Dr Basant Garg to get this event allocated to the district twice within two years. Earlier, this event was held in Bathinda in 2014. The DC Bathinda has made a record to supervise such a big event twice in two years tenure.
With the successful ending of the SARAS 2016, Shena Aggarwal who is a nodal officer of the fair has joined the star list of the SARAS fame officers. Two well known, IAS officers of Punjab, Anindita Mitra and Varinder Sharma are considered as luminaries & achievers, due to their excellent management in handling the SARAS events. Shena has emerged as the third one to join this star list.
(Shena Aggarwal with her batch mate Kulwant Singh ADC sitting her camp office)
Speaking with APS Brar of babushahi.com, Shena Aggarwal said “I am grateful to my team of officials who have shown keen interest and worked hard to make this show a great success”. I am also thankful to the people of Bathinda who had participated in big numbers in the fair and encouraged the artists and artisans she added.
Shena Aggarwal batch mate Kulwant Singh, ADC Muktsar Sahib was also by her side today. He spent few hours in the fair. Sanyam Aggarwal, ADC Mansa, husband of Shena too joined her every evening and played an important role.
Shena said “Around 190 Artisans from the 20 states of the country participated in the event and they have sold of their items to the tune of Rs 2.50 Crores in 12 days”. The fair has received a huge response, despite the rural people’s busy schedule of selling their produce.
(Luminaries of SARAS fame Anindita Mitra & Varinder Sharma)
Many new features were added to give a colourful flavour to the fair; they were magic show, Laser dance show, Soccer football artist and a beat boxer who performs the art of mimicking drum machines using one's mouth, lips, tongue, and voice. These new items were centre of attraction for the people. Today on the last day, Kanwar Grewal Punjabi folk singer enthralled the audience with his songs.
The SARAS (Sale of Articles by Rural Artisans Society) is a major initiative taken by the Ministry of Rural Development in the direction of promoting products of self help groups of the country. (APS Brar 9814313405)