Dr. Virendra Kumar inaugurates the 17th Divya Kala Mela in Raipur
Chhattisgarh
3 min read
Dr Virendra Kumar, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, inaugurated the 17th Divya Kala Mela in Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, on 17 August 2024. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai was also present on the occasion.
The Divya Kala Mela was started by the government of India in 2022 to economically empower disabled (Divyang) artists by providing market access to their products. It also aims to develop their skills.
Since 2022, a series of Divya Kala Melas has been organised in various cities across the country, and the Raipur Mela is the 17th in the series.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Virendra Kumar said that his ministry will set up a Divyangjan park in Raipur if the state government provides land for the purpose. The Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai agreed to the proposal and announced that the state government would allot 5 acres of land for the purpose in Raipur.
Who organised the 17th Divya Kala Mela?
The 17th Divya Kala Mela has been organised by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Government of India.
The week-long Mela will be held from 16 August to 23 August 2024.
Feature of the 17th Divya Kala Mela
The 17th Divya Kala Mela will provide a platform for over 100 Divyang artisans, artists, and entrepreneurs from around 20 States/Union Territories to display their products, including home decor, lifestyle products, clothing, eco-friendly items, packaged foods, etc., to the public.
To promote the economic empowerment of the Divyangjan, Divya Kala Shakti’ Job Fairs and Loan Mela are also being organised. This will help the Divyangjan access cheaper loans to expand their businesses.
