Fair for rural products from Saturday

KOCHI: In a bid to give boost to the rural economy, the district administration is organising the IRDP SGSY Vipanana Mela 2011 coinciding with Onam at the Ernakulathappan Ground from Saturday. The event is being organised as part of poverty alleviation programme of the government.The organisers are aiming to achieve a sales of Rs 40 lakh. Union Minister K V Thomas will inaugurate the fair. Excise Minister K Babu will preside over the function.Seventeen development blocks from Ernakulam, 8 from Idukki, 5 from Palakkad, two each from Thrissur and Alappuzha are participating in the fair which will conclude on September 7,  district panchayat president Eldose Kunnapilly told reporters.The products made by the IRDP/SGSY beneficiaries from rural areas would get an opportunity to showcase their products in the fair. The articles are produced with the financial help of the government and banks. The products are of good quality, he told reporters here.The fair gives them an opportunity to market their products without intermediaries, he said.