Trade exceeds ₹14 lakh at 10-day Swadeshi Mela in Valsad

An impressive display of women's empowerment was witnessed at the 10-day Swadeshi Mela organised by the Valsad Municipality at the C.B. High School ground. Local women entrepreneurs recorded a turnover of more than ₹14 lakh during the 10-day period.

According to a report by Sandesh, during this fair held from 28 October to 06 November, sisters from Sakhi Mandals exhibited and sold their domestic and handicraft products at approximately 50 stalls. During this time, items such as garlic chutney, pickles, millet sweets, and Nagli papad remained highly popular. Additionally, Nagli papad, wafers, chakri, toran, diyas, and other home decor items were also sold. The fair also conveyed a message of environmental awareness, including cosmetics made from neem, kesuda, and sandalwood, as well as bamboo products.

Hinaben Bhandari and Khushbabhen Patel, residents of the Vavdi area, stated that handmade bangles, woolen items, and earrings received a good response, earning them approximately ₹10,000. They expressed gratitude to the government for allocating the stalls free of cost. This initiative was undertaken by the Urban Livelihood Mission (ULM) of the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department of the Government of Gujarat.