The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is organizing the nine-day SHILP SAMAGAM MELA 2026 at Mysuru Dasara Exhibition Grounds in Karnataka from October 11 to October 19, 2026. Union Secretary Shri Sudhansh Pant is scheduled to visit the mela and conduct a comprehensive review of the Ministry's schemes, programmes, and initiatives along with site visits in Mysuru.
The mela features 83 stalls, with 80 stalls allotted to artisans including 37 women artisans from Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, and Safai Karamcharis. Participants represent 12 states and union territories: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Puducherry, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh.
Products on display 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 event is jointly organized by 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). The Ministry provides free stalls and supports travel expenses, daily allowance, transportation of goods, and meals for participating artisans.
This initiative aims to strengthen market linkages, promote traditional craftsmanship, create sustainable livelihood opportunities, and preserve India's cultural heritage. The mela also serves as a platform for disseminating information about Ministry schemes and financial assistance programs.
The Ministry is concurrently promoting the BHARAT TULIP (Traditional Artisans' Upliftment Livelihood Programme) initiative to expand digital market access for artisans' products in India and abroad through improved branding and online sales.
This Mysuru edition is the first Shilp Samagam Mela of financial year 2026-27. Since 2022, the Ministry has organized 13 such fairs benefiting 975 artisans. Additional fairs are planned for Guwahati (October 21-28, 2026), Dilli Haat in New Delhi, Jodhpur, and Lucknow during the current financial year, along with participation in the India International Trade Fair 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi (November 14-27, 2026) and the Surajkund Mela in February 2027.