ITANAGAR, Aug 17: NABARD General Manager Damodar Mishra inaugurated a Rural Haat supported by NABARD at Palin in Kra-Daadi district today, in presence of Likha Taji (ADC Palin), Lalit Maurya (DDM, NABARD), DAO Kra-Daadi, Saurav Gupata (AM, NABARD), officials of the District Administration, representatives of BMMU- ArSRLM, SHG members and local artisans.
The project is implemented by BMMU, ArSRLM, Palin in collaboration with the CLF- All Palin West Women with financial assistance from NABARD.
A rural haat is an open-air market that serves as a trading venue for local people in rural areas.
GM Mishra addressed the gathering, highlighting various NABARD initiatives being implemented in Arunachal Pradesh to support SHGs and farmers. He commended the ArSRM team for their collaborative efforts with NABARD. He emphasized that the Haat should not only serve as a retail counter but also evolve into a collection point or mandi for wholesale distribution, supplying SHG members’ produce to nearby towns.
Expressing satisfaction at seeing the enthusiasm and happiness among the SHG women present, he hoped the haat would facilitate other SHGs in marketing local products, ensuring better remuneration for their members. He urged branch managers in attendance to support SHG members and other farmers in obtaining credit linkage, noting that with the help of bank loans, they could expand their businesses and make them sustainable.
The ADC lauded the efforts of NABARD as well as the CLF members and encouraged them to make the best of the opportunity to bring self-reliance in their lives. He urged them to work in a convergence mode to make similar projects in future. He further appreciated and thanked the landowner who has leased the land free of cost to the CLF & ArSRLM to construct the rural haat at Palin, without whose contribution it would not have been possible and wished them all success in their new venture.
DDM, NABARD SHG advised the SHG members to make full use of the market shed and maintain the asset created and become self-sufficient in next one year so as to bear the recurring expenses of the haat for its upkeep.
BMM, ArSRLM, Chi Doye encouraged the SHG members and explained the concept of livelihood activities being taken up by ArSRLM in collaboration with NABARD under his initiative in Palin.
Meanwhile, GM Mishra also inaugurated a rural mart at Palin, which is supported by NABARD. This mart will serve as a marketing platform for SHGs to sell local handloom items such as traditional wrappers/skirts (Gale), waistcoats, mufflers, and other handicraft items made by community members.
The GM provided valuable tips for running a successful marketing venture and encouraged the SHGs to use this opportunity for economic development. He emphasized the importance of maintaining continuity, quality, and quantity of local goods for both local and national customers.