Raipur, 24 October 2021. Chief Minister Shri Bhupesh Baghel today inaugurated the 10-day Chhattisgarh Herbals Diwali Mela organized from October 24 to November 2. More than 130 products of Chhattisgarh Herbals are available at a discount of 15% in various stalls set up in the Chhattisgarh Haat complex at Pandri in the capital. Forest and Climate Change Minister Mr. Mohammad Akbar, Mayor Municipal Corporation Mr. Ejaz Dhebar, Chairman and MLA of Chhattisgarh Housing Board Mr. Kuldeep Juneja, State Minor Forest Produce Association President Mr. Bharat Sai were present on the occasion.
Inaugurating it, Chief Minister Shri Baghel said that the production of minor forest produce has an important place in improving the lives of tribal-forest families in Chhattisgarh. We are proud of this that due to the continuous efforts of the Minor Forest Produce Union Forest Department, the Naxal-affected areas of the state and the residents of Vananchal are continuously uplifting. On this occasion, Chief Minister Mr. Baghel visited each of the Ayush stalls and household products stalls, Kodo-Kutki product stalls, Ayurvedic Hospital, Gadkaleva Food Products Stall and Handloom and Mati Kala Board and Shabri Emporium etc. set up in Chhattisgarh Herbals Diwali Mela. encouraged them. During this time, Jalebi, a product made from forest produce ‘Tikhur’ by District Union Dhamtari, Also tasted Barfi and Halwa and appreciated it as a delicious dish of Chhattisgarh. He also asked the Municipal Corporation to take necessary initiative for allotment of shops for the promotion of the dish made from Tikhur of Chhattisgarh. During this, the Chief Minister also encouraged the traditional businessmen by making earthen lamps with electric chalk in the stalls of Mati Kala Board.
On this occasion, Forest and Climate Change Minister Shri Akbar said that the main objective of Chhattisgarh Herbals Diwali Mela is to introduce the residents of the state to their own brand Chhattisgarh Herbals. They also have to be introduced to the purity of love and dedication that women of SHGs put in these products of Chhattisgarh Herbals. Every Chhattisgarh Herbals product purchased at the fair this Diwali will brighten the life of a tribal or forest dweller.
It is worth mentioning that in the Chhattisgarh Herbals Diwali Mela, you can buy ayurvedic products, food products and various types of household products of Chhattisgarh Herbals. These products have been made by more than 6 thousand self-help group women, who are working in more than 50 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras located in inaccessible areas. Apart from this, more than 60 products of 11 other self-help groups and farmers societies are also included in the exhibition in Chhattisgarh Herbals Diwali Mela. There are also traditional doctors in the fair to take care of the health of the people. Cultural programs will also be presented by the tribal dance group on this occasion. Other attractions in the fair are bamboo crafts, Chhattisgarh’s famous Jhitku-Mitki art and stalls of handloom products. Apart from this, you can taste the traditional cuisine of Chhattisgarh in the stall of Gadkaleva there.
On this occasion Principal Secretary Forest Shri Manoj Kumar Pingua, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Forest Force Chief Shri Rakesh Chaturvedi, Managing Director State Minor Forest Produce Association Shri Sanjay Shukla, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Shri P.C. Pandey, Mr. K. Murugan, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Mr. Sunil Mishra, Additional Managing Director Mr. S.S. Bajaj and Shri Anand Babu etc. departmental officers were present.
