Governor Mangubhai Patel opens the Pari Bazar Heritage Festival, centered around the theme of Gondi painting.
Governor Mangubhai Patel praised the Pari Bazar initiative, calling it an excellent step toward empowering women and supporting women artisans. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Pari Bazar Heritage Festival, he emphasized its valuable role in aiding women artisans. The event, organized by the Begums of Bhopal, was inaugurated by Governor Patel at Gauhar Mahal and focused on Gondi painting. He also toured the exhibition, which highlighted the craftsmanship of women artisans.
Governor Mangubhai Patel remarked on Bhopal’s rich cultural heritage, noting its preservation of archaeological, historical, religious, literary, and artistic traditions for centuries. He pointed out how the city’s vibrant art and literature continue to attract global admiration. The Governor also praised the organizers of Pari Bazar for their efforts in promoting skilled artisans and their creations, underlining the significance of such initiatives in preserving and celebrating cultural traditions.
Governor Mangubhai Patel took part in an initiative to treat TB patients and honored Nishchay Mitras during the event. He praised the Begums of Bhopal Club for their support in advancing the government’s mission to eradicate TB by 2025. Governor Patel emphasized that serving the poor and sick is a virtuous act, akin to serving God. He called for collective and self-help efforts to eliminate TB, urging sensitivity at both individual and institutional levels in the treatment and care of TB patients in the state.
Governor Mangubhai Patel noted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India is witnessing a new era of social, economic, and cultural progress. The Prime Minister’s vision aims to make the nation capable, strong, and prosperous through collective trust, support, and effort. He also highlighted the importance of the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana in economically empowering traditional artisans. The scheme offers free basic and advanced training, a Rs 15,000 scholarship voucher for purchasing toolkits, a daily allowance of Rs 500 during training, and access to bank linkages for loans up to Rs 3 lakh at low interest rates to establish businesses. Additionally, the scheme promotes cashless transactions and provides a dedicated sales platform for artisans to market their products.
Governor Mangubhai Patel further emphasized that initiatives like GI tagging and Vocal for Local have boosted the demand for products made by rural, traditional, and local artisans. He encouraged organizations like the Begums of Bhopal Club to help artisans by collaborating with national and international experts to produce high-quality products suited for global markets. He also urged the tech-savvy youth of the new generation to form self-help groups with artisans and establish start-ups, promoting entrepreneurship within the artisan community.
During the program, Governor Patel was presented with a shawl and a memento. Smt. Rakhshan Zahid, President of the Begums of Bhopal Club, gave the welcome address, while Smt. Meenakshi Singh, Deputy Secretary of the Tribal Affairs Department and MD of Vanya Prakashan, spoke about the government’s efforts to protect and promote tribal art and artists. Dr. Ajay Goenka, President of Chirayu Charitable Trust, congratulated the club for creating a platform for local artists and craftsmen, and Smt. Tamsin Khan, the club’s Secretary, proposed the vote of thanks.