Shri Sudhansh Pant, Union Secretary of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, visited the nine-day Shilp Samagam Mela 2026 under way at Mysuru in Karnataka this evening.
The Ministry is organising the Mela jointly with its three national corporations — the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC), the National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) and the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC). These corporations provide financial assistance to artisans and eligible beneficiaries.
At the Mysuru Dasara Exhibition Grounds, the Secretary went around the stalls and interacted with stall managers and visitors.
The Union Secretary is in Mysuru on a two-day official visit, during which he is holding a comprehensive review, with the Administration, of the Ministry’s schemes, programmes and initiatives currently being implemented. He is also making site visits in Mysuru.
According to Shri Pant, initiatives of this kind help the Ministry strengthen market access, encourage entrepreneurship and further the economic empowerment of disadvantaged communities.
Open until Monday, October 19, the Shilp Samagam Mela gives visitors a chance to explore India’s traditional crafts and handloom products and, at the same time, support artisans’ livelihoods.
A senior Ministry official said the Mela has been running since October 11. It serves as a marketing platform for artisans and beneficiaries from Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Safai Karamcharis, allowing them to present their traditional handicrafts, handloom products and other goods to a wider audience.
According to the official, the Mela has 83 stalls, of which 80 have been allotted to artisans, including 37 women artisans. Artisans from 12 States and Union Territories — among them Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Puducherry, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh — are taking part in the exhibition.
He said the stalls offer a wide variety of products, such as handicrafts, handloom sarees, spices, pickles, incense sticks, honey products, block-printed items, leather goods, wooden toys, bags, purses, terracotta products, artificial jewellery, rosewood wall hangings, and bed and cushion covers. He also visited the food stalls serving traditional delicacies, which add to the experience for visitors.
The official added that the Mela aims to strengthen market linkages for artisans, promote traditional craftsmanship and create sustainable livelihood opportunities. By interacting directly with visitors and prospective customers, participating artisans can showcase their products, widen their customer base and extend the market reach of their enterprises. He noted that the initiative also promotes India’s rich cultural heritage and helps preserve traditional art forms and skills.
He further said the Mela is an important platform for spreading information about the schemes and programmes of the Ministry and its three national corporations, so that eligible beneficiaries can learn about the financial assistance and entrepreneurship opportunities available to them.
As per the official, the Ministry supports artisans’ participation by providing free stalls along with assistance for travel expenses, daily allowance, transportation of goods and meals, in line with the applicable arrangements.
Alongside the Mela, the Ministry is also promoting the BHARAT TULIP (Traditional Artisans’ Upliftment Livelihood Programme) initiative, which seeks to expand market access in India and abroad for products made by target-group artisans through digital platforms. Branding products under BHARAT TULIP is meant to raise their visibility, make online sales easier and link traditional artisans with a wider customer base.
Since 2022, the Ministry has organised 13 Shilp Samagam Melas, which have benefited 975 artisans so far.
The current Mysuru edition is the first Shilp Samagam Mela of the financial year 2026–27.
During the current financial year, the Ministry also plans to hold more fairs in Guwahati (Oct 21 to 28, 2026), at Dilli Haat in New Delhi, and in Jodhpur and Lucknow. It will also take part in major exhibitions, including the India International Trade Fair 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from November 14 to 27, 2026, and the Surajkund Mela in February 2027.