Union Minister inaugurates Shilpa Samagama Mela 2026 at Dasara Exhibition

Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale inaugurated the Shilpa Samagama Mela 2026 at Dasara Exhibition Grounds in Mysuru on Tuesday.

The Shipla Samagama Mela is a fair showcasing handloom items including sarees, spices, pickles, incense sticks, honey products, Kanjeevaram sarees, leather works, wooden toys, bags, terracotta, artificial jewelleries, wall hangings and bed cushion covers.

The Shilpa Samagama Mela is a fair showcasing handicraft and handloom products of artisans representing 12 different States such as Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Keralam, Rajasthan, Puducherry, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. The Mela on Dasara Exhibition Grounds will provide a marketing platform to the products made by the communities namely Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, Safai Karmacharis.

The exhibition has been jointly organised by three national corporations under the Ministry: 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), which provides finance to the artisans.

Meanwhile, Mr. Athawale addressed a press conference at Government Guest House in Mysuru earlier and said that the Central government has launched various welfare schemes for the economic empowerment of vulnerable sections including scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), sanitation workers, transgender persons and people with disabilities and visually challenged like providing loans ranging from ₹1.5 lakhs up to ₹35 lakhs with low interest through various development corporations.

Stressing on the commitment of Union government to the welfare and empowerment of socially backward section, Central government has allotted ₹1.98 lakh crore to social welfare schemes in its annual budget of ₹57 lakh crore, said the Minister.

According to the Constitutional provisions, reservation has been given to SCs and STs. Following the recommendation of Mandal Commission, 27% reservation accorded to Other Backward caste. The government subsequently introduced a 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS), he said.

Responding to Congress allegation of Central government imposing undeclared emergency, Minister said that Indira Gandhi government had imposed emergency, not BJP. He defended the restriction on protest at Jantar Manthar to maintain law and order situation.

Ruling out the possibility of resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, Minister said that Election Commission was an independent functioning body, and has no connection with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah.

Highlighting the various schemes under Central government, Minister said that under Pradhanmanthri Awas Yojana, around 4 crore beneficiaries received benefits, whereas in the State, 10 lakh beneficiaries have been benefitted under the scheme. Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana opened bank accounts for 2 crore 22 lakh 23 thousand people in the State.

With reference to Mysuru, Mr. Athawale said around 13,000 students studying in Classes I to VIII and 31,000 post-matric students benefited from educational assistance. Of 7,000 students staying in 84 government hostels in district, nearly 75 % are SCs . Monthly stipends of ₹1,850 for college students and ₹1,750 for high school students were also provided to eligible benefeciaries, he said.