NIRD to host rural tech and crafts mela from tomorrow

National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD & PR) is organising the 14th Rural Technology and Crafts Mela from tomorrow.
NIRD & PR Director General W R Reddy said more than 300 stalls by self-help groups (SHGS)/ entrepreneurs/ artisans/ institutions/ NGOs/ government organisations, etc, from across the country will be put up at the mela to be held on the institute's campus, to display, exhibit and demonstrate their products and technologies.
Representatives from 18 states will participate in various events during the five-day mela, he said.
"It is a great platform for them to display and sell their products and technologies. The motto of the mela is to attract the urban youth and create awareness on crafts and arts for rural development," he said.

A film festival on rural development will be also organised by NIRD&PR for two days from tomorrow and more than 50 films, including documentaries from across the country, will be screened during the event, a official release said.
"The objective of the film festival is to create awareness among people about rural development by screening the documentaries and success stories which are gathered from various gram panchayats across the country," Reddy said.
Promoting cost effective technology to the rural people, DRDO's former scientists have developed nearly 17 technologies on rural products which enrich the lifestyles of the rural people in India, the release said.