Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister inaugurates fair in Mumbai to market products created by Divyangjans

Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar assured all possible help to the disabled and said that disabled people have an important role to play in the making of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. He said that the whole country is moving in the direction of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and this goal cannot be achieved without making divyangjans self-reliant.

The Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister inaugurated the Divya Kala Mela 2023 at MMRDA Ground-1 at Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai today (February 16, 2023). Shri Ramdas Athawale, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment and Lok Sabha MP Shri Gopal Shetty were also present on the occasion.

Speaking at the inaugural function, Dr Virendra Kumar said that the Central Government has made several schemes to promote entrepreneurship and craftsmanship amongst specially-abled persons. These skills are implemented to provide training, skills and finance to the divyang brothers and sisters, he added.

The role of Divyangjans in the creation of Aatmanirbhar Bharat is important: Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr Virendra Kumar

MoS Dr Ramdas Athawale said that Divya Kala Mela is an initiative to create a market for products made by divyangjans. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has tried to provide a platform to Divyang craftsmen, entrepreneurs and artists for marketing their skills and products and thereby make them feel confident, he added. Divyangjans are blessed with special abilities and talents that are manifested through their artistic skills, he said. The country is changing, and along with it, positivity is also coming into society’s thinking process for the specially-abled, said MoS Dr Athawale.   

The Divya Kala Mela is being held till February 25, 2023, at MMRDA Grounds in BKC and will be open from 11.00 am to 9.00 pm on all ten days. The fair will feature a series of cultural activities including performances by differently-abled artists and renowned professionals. Visitors can also enjoy their favourite foods from different regions of the country in this Mela.

Divya Kala Mela is an initiative to provide a platform to Divyang craftsmen, entrepreneurs and artists for marketing their skills and products: MoS Dr Ramdas Athawale

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, operates various schemes for the empowerment of persons with disabilities in the country. NHFDC provides financial assistance in the form of loans for the economic empowerment of Divyangjan. To provide marketing support to Divyangjan, they are provided free stalls in fairs and exhibitions organized across the country. 

These fairs have an important contribution to branding, product development and providing market benefits to the products of Divyangjan. A large number of people attend these famous fairs, due to which it becomes easy to take the skills of the Divyangjan to the public. For the last few years, the Divyangjan Empowerment Department is organizing exclusive fairs for Divyangjan through NHFDC at its level. These fairs have been named Divya Kala Mela.

In December 2022, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities organized the Divya Kala Mela at the historic Kartavya Path in New Delhi, in which lakhs of visitors appreciated the art, crafts and products of Divyangjan. The Department has plans to promote the concept of such a unique fair dedicated to Divyangjan brothers and sisters, and as such Divya Kala Mela would be organized every year and will not be limited to big cities like Delhi and Mumbai, but be held across the country in future. After Mumbai, another Divya Kala Mela will be held at Bhopal in the month of March 2023. Going forward, it will be organized in 10 different places across the country.

Disclaimer: This is an official press release by PIB.