Koraput: The week-long Subhadra Shakti Mela and Entrepreneurs Mela 2026, hosted by the district administration, ORMAS and the Mission Shakti department, recorded a business turnover of more than Rs 2.5 crore during the seven-day event held at the Dussehra Ground in Jeypore from March 8 to March 14.Officials said the mela, organised in connection with the celebration of International Women’s Day, provided a vibrant marketing platform for women self-help groups (SHGs), entrepreneurs and artisans to showcase and sell their products under the Swadeshi concept.“A total of 255 stalls were set up of which 166 stalls were operated by SHGs, highlighting the strength of women-led enterprises in the district. The stalls displayed a range of products including handloom, handicraft, millet and non-timber forest produce products, readymade garments and food items,” said Koraput collector Manoj Satyawan Mahajan.According to the collector, the mela witnessed encouraging sales throughout the week. The Subhadra Shakti and Entrepreneurs Mela has recorded an overall business of more than Rs 2.5 crore in seven days. The response from visitors has been overwhelming and it shows the growing demand for SHG products and local traditional items, the collector said.The collector further said the event has significantly helped strengthen market linkages for women entrepreneurs and SHG members. Such melas provide a direct platform for SHGs and small entrepreneurs to interact with customers and expand their market reach while promoting local crafts, handlooms and millet-based products, Mahajan said.Category-wise, the mela featured 25 handloom stalls, 46 handicraft stalls, 55 agriculture/millet/NTFP stalls, 14 ready-made garment stalls, 29 food stalls, 40 entrepreneur stalls and 36 stalls under other categories.The food stalls, which mainly served millet-based dishes and traditional forgotten foods, drew large crowds and helped popularise nutritious local cuisine, said ORMAS CEO Uma Mahesh.The entire mela was also covered with an insurance protection of Rs 10 crore, covering risks such as natural calamities, burglary and public liability, and no untoward incident was reported throughout the mela, he added.
