CL John calls for honest, hard work at artisans’ fair

Staff Reporter DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 9 In a fitting logic Nagaland legislators are missionaries who serve the disadvantaged and attend to the call of those in need, Minister of Rural Development & REPA CL John said during the inaugural program of Regional Sales of Articles & Rural Artisans & Societies (SARAS) Fair 2015 on Monday, November 9 at the Urban Haat in Dimapur. C.L.John pointed out that the work culture among the Nagas is absent because of which the whole work system is affected. Also pointing out to the Self Help Groups (SHG), the legislators called on them to instead of imploring for assistance enforce the ‘work and eat’ with dignity of labor’ culture which he said will develop Nagaland the way we dream of our land, prosperous, professional, completive and skillful. Highlighting on the Regional SARAS Fair 2015, C.L.John said SARAS Fair is a major initiative taken by the Ministry of Rural Development Government of India aimed in the direction of promoting rural products and building capacities of SHG members. He therefore expressed belief that such interstate activity will go beyond concrete material exchange to achieve much desired significant abstract oneness, togetherness and understanding the varied culture and ways of one another leading to annihilation of the feeling of ‘other’. Such inter-state programmes he said is one of the best gateway to bring even the far corners of India together. Addressing the participants of the SARAS Fair the legislator underlined India to be largely rural in every aspect and expressed promotion and development of rural affairs to be very significant for the betterment of the Nation as a whole. “Along with the promotion and sale of the rural products, the state mission will stream video clips and documentaries on Nagaland Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and its impact among the Rural Community” said the legislator. He further added that this was aimed at creating awareness amongst the public and visitors with joint efforts of every stakeholder in assisting rural artisans, opening new opportunities, improving their awareness level as well as exposing the richness of products from rural poor to the emerging urban markets. Acknowledging the initiative for such fair, he said that with its objectives SARAS fair has come a long way in giving exposure to rural artisans, entrepreneurs, officials dealing to develop markets for products manufactured by beneficiaries of programmes of the Ministry. “Joint efforts coupled with zeal and commitment, change is possible which marches towards upliftment of the poor and the marginalized” promoted C.L.John and at the same time mentioned that he was his encouraged to see hard working entrepreneurs eagerly waiting to exhibit and sale products. Thereby he called on the gatherings to persuade their children and the youngsters to cultivate the work culture as mere degree and education will not facilitate and make them identify with the fruit of hard labor. The Regional SARAS Fair 2015 initiated by the Ministry of Rural Development GOI is being organized by the Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission (NSRLM) Department under the RD Department Nagaland from 9th November to 20th November 2015 at Urban Haat Dimapur. With participants from Mizoram and Kerala, the SARAS Fair 2015 has 249 participants.