The first of its kind Women of India Organic Mela begins at Dilli Haat, INA in New Delhi today

The first of its kind Women of India Organic Mela begins at Dilli Haat, INA in New Delhi today 

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 inaugurated the first of its kind Women of India Exhibition with the theme ‘Women and organic Products’ at ‘Dilli Haat, INA in New Delhi  today.

For the first time in India, over 500 women artisans /entrepreneurs across the country have come together with their organic products, such as tribal and ethnic foods, pickles and preserves, rice, pulses, spices, vegetables and fruits, fabrics, dyes and dresses, cosmetics and household products, in the exhibition.

Appreciating the unique initiative of the Women and Child Development Ministry, Shri Radha Mohan Singh said that  a commendable effort has been made to reach out to the women farmers directly. The Agriculture Minister offered that the Agriculture Ministry  will be happy to provide funds for promoting such Women of India Organic Melas across the country.

Smt Maneka Gandhi said that the people visiting Dilli Haat will get an opportunity to buy  a variety of organic products including large number of varieties of rice, rajma, pulses , spices, other grains , honey and handicrafts. Women from Leh to Kanyakumari and from Kohima to Kutch are represented in the mela , which has given  women farmers a platform to display and sell their products directly to the people, the Minister added.

The Exhibition has been set up with the active involvement of three organizations  Navdanya , P R Grid and Organic Farming Association of (OFAI) , who have tried to  ensure full participation of organic women farmers and organic producers from places as diverse and far as Ladakh, Assam and Odisha. Other organisations at the exhibition include HIMVEER, ASMI international, ATP Greentech , AMIRA , Sonal White Cub Dairy-Free Ice Creams among others and a large number of small farmers from across the country.

Another unique feature of the  exhibition will be ‘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..

Some of the other organic products for exhibition/sale  include cereals, oils, honey, tea, hair care, bath care, beauty care, aromatherapy products, organic cotton fabric, linen, organic seeds and bio products among others.

Besides organic products, people will also get an opportunity to taste a variety of home-cooked and organic food in the Haat.

The main aim of the Exhibition is to support and encourage women and women-led groups which promote organic farming thus  supporting local community’s economy, creating jobs and keeping farmers thriving in addition to spreading awareness  about the benefits of organic products with the motto “Eat Healthy Live Healthy”.

The Ministry has made entry of visitors free on all days of the Exhibition.

The ‘Women of India Exhibition’ is a special initiative of WCD Ministry for women’s empowerment under which it invites the women, meets their travel and local accommodation costs, but allows them to keep all the  proceeds recovered from the sale of organic produce.