Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik inaugurated the Adivasi Mela and Sanskrutika Utsav-2023 this evening. On the inaugural occasion Jagannath Saraka, Minister, ST & SC Development, Law, Pradeep Majhi, Advisor, Special Development Council, 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.
The CM visited the Art and Craft Sector of Adivasi Mela on the occasion. To propagate art, culture and tradition of Adivasi (ST) and to market their authentic tribal products have been the sole purpose of Adivasi Mela. This year Adivasi Mela will continue for a period of ten days till 1st March.
The primary attraction of Adivasi Mela this year are 121 stalls in total will sell and display authentic products. Ten PVTG houses have been constructed. These will make the visitors enjoy tribal atmosphere of remote parts of the State. These houses have thatched and tile roofs while the wall has been painted with jhoti.
Banana trees with bunch of plantains in the house compounds and hanging of large pumpkins and goats from roofs have added to the attraction. Tradition and development is being reflected in the models of the house.
In the Adivasi Haat various tribal and forest products are available for sale. Women SHG of ITDA and Micro Projects are selling their products made by them and produced in the forest.
Tribal women in 62 ITDA stalls are selling the product collected and produced by them. 17 stalls of micro projects have been allotted to SHG women.
Apart from that TDCC, OFSDS, Mission Shakti, ORMAS, Millet Mission, Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts Department, Planning and Convergence Department are selling and
displaying their products in 23 stalls.
There will be cultural programme and tribal dance during the exhibition in every evening. It is worthy to mention that every year 8 to 10 lakh visitors visit Adivasi Mela and there is business turnover of 5 to 6 Crores. Bhubaneswar and its adjoining areas and from people of neighbouring States also visit the mela. They purchase necessary food items and forest products like turmeric, millet, mong, blackgram, corn, Basmati rice, honey, broom stick, palua etc for one year.
All necessary Police and security arrangements have been made in the Adivasi Mela. Close CCTV have been installed in the Mela premises. It is being monitored by control room and main control room. To make people alert on Corona there is awareness message displayed.
There is Fast Aid Camp, Temporary Fire Birigade and Electricity Control Room etc.. In various sectors of the Mela there is provision of Fire Extinguisher. Necessary steps have been made to visit and purchase the products as well as to enjoy the cultural programmes.
