Subhadra Shakti Mela 2026 Inaugurated by Balasore District Administration and Mission Shakti Department
Balasore, 23/02 (Krushna Kumar Mohanty): The Subhadra Shakti Mela 2026 was inaugurated on Sunday evening at the local ITI ground under the joint initiative of the Balasore District Administration, ORMAS, and the Mission Shakti Department.
Sadar Balasore MLA Manas Kumar Dutta attended the inaugural ceremony as the Chief Guest. Among the other distinguished guests were District Parishad President Narayan Pradhan, Collector Suryabanshi Mayur Vikas, Additional District Magistrate (General) Sudhakar Nayak, Sub-Collector Shiva Malavya, Chief Development Officer-cum-Executive Officer Sanjay Kumar Raut, and Additional Chief Development Officer (Zilla Parishad) Dr. Madhusmita Samantaray.
At the outset, the Chief Guest and other dignitaries offered floral tributes and lit lamps before the idol of Jagannath. The fair, which is being organized across the state, will continue in Balasore district until the 28th of this month.
The mela aims to provide marketing opportunities to rural women Self Help Groups and entrepreneurs by facilitating the sale of their products. Special emphasis has been laid on creating a market aligned with urban tastes and preferences. In his welcome address, Chief Development Officer-cum-Executive Officer Sanjay Kumar Raut stated that the income generated from such initiatives would not only make the participants self-reliant but also contribute to the nation’s economic growth.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Guest and other dignitaries highlighted that through various poverty alleviation schemes of the Government of India, financial assistance is being extended to rural Self Help Groups, cottage industries, and handloom artisans. The mela serves as a platform to connect their products directly with the market for display and sale.
In her concluding remarks, Additional Chief Development Officer (Zilla Parishad) Dr. Madhusmita Samantaray expressed gratitude to the Chief Guest, other dignitaries, and all officials associated with the successful organization of the Subhadra Shakti Mela.
