Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov. 15: The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Dr. Dinesh Sharma Ji, inaugurated the SARAS Aajeevika Mela 2026 at ITF Ground, Sri Vijaya Puram, organised by the Directorate of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies, Andaman and Nicobar Administration. The Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray Ji, graced the occasion as the guest of honour.
At the commencement of the ceremony, the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor was accorded a traditional welcome by members of the Nicobari community. This welcome symbolised the rich cultural heritage and indigenous traditions of the Islands. On the occasion, a book was also presented to the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor as a mark of respect and courtesy.
The ceremony began with the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’, followed by the National Anthem and the lighting of the ceremonial lamp by the dignitaries, marking the formal inauguration of the programme. Thereafter, ‘Dweep Sutra Boxes’ were presented to the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor and other dignitaries as a gesture of gratitude.
The SARAS Aajeevika Mela 2026 is an important initiative aimed at providing an institutional platform to rural women entrepreneurs, Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and traditional artisans to showcase, promote and market their products. The objective of this initiative is to strengthen entrepreneurship at the grassroots level, ensure wider market access, create sustainable livelihood opportunities and promote the economic empowerment of rural women through community-based enterprise development.
In his inaugural address, the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor emphasised the important role of women-led initiatives in accelerating inclusive rural development. He stressed the importance of promoting self-reliance, strengthening community institutions and expanding sustainable livelihood opportunities through Self-Help Groups and grassroots entrepreneurship.
The Mela serves as a vibrant marketplace for rural producers, where Self-Help Groups, women entrepreneurs and traditional artisans get an opportunity to showcase their products, display their craftsmanship and establish direct connections with consumers. Along with facilitating sales, this initiative aims to enhance the visibility of products, promote indigenous skills and craftsmanship, encourage value addition and create sustainable income-generating opportunities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
In his address, the Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, emphasised the importance of encouraging rural entrepreneurship and strengthening livelihood opportunities for Self-Help Groups. He said that enabling opportunities should be created for rural communities to develop their economic potential through enterprise and market-oriented activities.
The ceremony was attended by the Chief Secretary, Shri Gyanesh Bharti, IAS; Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman and Secretary (Rural Development/Panchayat), Ms. Purva Garg, IAS; Chairperson, Sri Vijaya Puram Municipal Council, Smt. Vasantha; Pramukh, Prothrapur, Smt. Champa Das; and Pramukh, Ferrargunj, Smt. Padmavati. Senior officers of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, officials of the Directorate of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies, representatives of Self-Help Groups and other concerned stakeholders were also present on the occasion.