Tushnabad, Feb 2: NABARD has extended support to Mithakhari Gram Panchayat for construction of Rural Haat near Tushnabad Junction. The marketing platform was inaugurated by the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Rural Development, A&N Administration, Smt. Nandini Paliwal, IAS, on Jan. 31, 2024 in the presence of General Manager, NABARD, Smti Archana Singh and Pradhan, Mithakhari, Shri Mohd. Safiq. The ‘Rural Haat’ is a dedication to the Gram Panchayat primarily for marketing of products of farmers, artisans and SHG members in the area. Members of Zilla Parishad, Panchayat Samiti and the villagers from Muslimbasti, Mithakhari and Ograbraj villages were present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Smt. Nandini Paliwal, thanked NABARD for setting up the Rural Haat which will provide market opportunities for the rural women SHG members to sell their produce.

In her address, Smt. Archana Singh, motivated the women SHG members and farmers to actively make use of the Rural Haat. She emphasized that in order to promote the business activities of the farmers of the locality, Andaman Krishak Sahayog Producer Co. Ltd., a Farmer Producer Company (FPO) supported by NABARD, with majority of the members from the Mithakhari constituency will also be setting up their sales outlet in the Rural Haat.

She also thanked the Mithakhari Gram Panchayat team for completing the project despite the challenges faced during construction of the Haat and welcomed more such community-based projects in partnership with NABARD. The hard work and contribution of Shri Mohammad Ali, Executive Engineer, PRI and the contractors received a huge round of applause from the general public.

On the occasion, women SHG members showcased their produce of fresh kitchen-garden vegetables, millet-based cake, kheer, dosa, pickles, garments, coir-based handicrafts.