Women of India Organic Mela Concludes The first of its kind Women of India Organic Mela concluded yesterday at Dilli Haat, INA in New Delhi. Women of India Exhibition with the theme 'Women and organic Products' was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Women and Child development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi and the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Shri Radha Mohan Singh on 13th November, 2015 for a period of 11 Days from 13th to 23rd November, 2015. In the exhibition, over 600 women artisans /entrepreneurs from Leh to Kanyakumari and from Kohima to Kutch participated with their organic products, including large varieties of rice, black rice, rajma, pulses, spices, honey, tea and lemon tea, organic mushroom, Bee wax, handicrafts, ethnic foods, pickles and preserves, vegetables and fruits, fabrics, dyes, dresses, cosmetics, organic liquid pesticides and fungicides etc. The visitors also enjoyed 'Forgotten Foods' like millets such as jhongora, ragi, Kuttu, Bajra, amaranth etc which were earlier regarded as healthy foods eaten by all but have lost their popularity over time. To encourage people to come in large numbers in the Mela and to know about the benefits of organic products, the Ministry made entry of visitors free on all days of the Exhibition. The main objective of the exhibition was to support and encourage women and women-led groups and promote organic products. The Ministry has got overwhelming response to the Mela and as such the Ministry is thinking to expand the base of such exhibition in other parts of the Country so that more and more women entrepreneurs/artisans get opportunity to participate and market their products. The Ministry distributed the certificate of the participation to the participants. MA/AK
