Union Secretary of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Sudhansh Pant visited the ongoing nine-day Shilp Samagam Mela 2026 at Mysuru Dasara Exhibition Grounds in Karnataka. The mela is organized by the Ministry through joint partnership of three national corporations under the Ministry: National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC), National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC), and National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC), which provide financial assistance to artisans and eligible beneficiaries.
The ongoing mela, which began on October 11 and continues until October 19, features 83 stalls including 80 stalls allotted to artisans, among them 37 women artisans. Artisans from 12 States and Union Territories are participating, including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Puducherry, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.
The mela provides a marketing platform for artisans and beneficiaries from Scheduled Castes (SCs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Safai Karamcharis, enabling them to showcase their traditional handicrafts, handloom products and other goods to a wider audience. Products displayed include handicrafts, handloom sarees, spices, pickles, incense sticks, honey products, block-printed items, leather goods, wooden toys, bags, purses, terracotta products, artificial jewellery, rosewood wall hangings, and bed and cushion covers, along with food stalls serving traditional delicacies.
The Ministry facilitates artisans' participation by providing free stalls and support towards travel expenses, daily allowance, transportation of goods and meals. The initiative is designed to strengthen market linkages for artisans, promote traditional craftsmanship, create sustainable livelihood opportunities, and promote India's rich cultural heritage while supporting preservation of traditional art forms and skills.
In addition to the physical mela, the Ministry is promoting the BHARAT TULIP (Traditional Artisans' Upliftment Livelihood Programme) initiative to expand market access for products made by target-group artisans through digital platforms in India and abroad. Branding products under BHARAT TULIP is intended to improve their visibility, facilitate online sales and connect traditional artisans with a wider customer base.
The Ministry has been organizing Shilp Samagam Melas since 2022, benefiting 975 artisans through 13 fairs held so far. The ongoing Mysuru edition is the first Shilp Samagam Mela of the financial year 2026–27. The Ministry proposes to organize additional fairs in Guwahati (October 21 to 28, 2026); Dilli Haat in New Delhi, Jodhpur and Lucknow during the current financial year, alongside participation in major exhibitions including the India International Trade Fair 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from November 14 to 27, 2026, and the Surajkund Mela in February 2027.