Shri Ramdas Athawale, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, held a press conference today at Kumara Krupa Guest House in Bengaluru and provided inputs about the Shilp Samagam Fair 2025 being held at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, from  5th Sept to 14th Sept 2025. The minister also spoke about people-centric schemes of the Government of India.

Speaking at a press conference, the Union Minister said that the Shilp Samagam Fair 2025, a 10-day national event is a special initiative of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, aimed at promoting the products of marginalized and underprivileged communities. The event will serve as a market platform for artisans and entrepreneurs belonging to Scheduled Castes, Backward Classes, Safai Karamcharis and other skilled communities who are provided with financial support through the Ministry’s three national corporations, i.e. National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC), National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation (NSKFDC) and National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC).

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has been organizing Shilpa Samagama Fairs since 2022. So far, through 11 such fairs, a total of 825 skilled artisans belonging to Scheduled Castes, Other Backward Classes, and Safai Karamcharis have benefitted from the initiative. The upcoming fair in Bengaluru will be the second fair of the 2025–26 financial year, after the Shilp Samagam Fair held in Bhubaneswar. Additionally, three more fairs are proposed to be held later this year in New Delhi, Ahmedabad, and Guwahati. The Ministry along with its three national corporations viz., NSFDC, NSKFDC, and NBCFDC will actively participate in prominent international exhibitions such as the India International Trade Fair (IITF) 2025 at Delhi and the Surajkund Mela at Faridabad. 

Beneficiaries of the Ministry’s top national corporations have been invited to showcase their handicraft and handloom products at the upcoming Shilp Samagam fair. A total of 100 exhibition stalls are on display, out of which 75 to 80 stalls have been allocated to the beneficiaries. Alongside these, there will be food stalls offering traditional cuisine for the visitors. The Bengaluru Shilp Samagam fair will feature handicraft and handloom products by skilled artisans from states of Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar, Karnataka, Puducherry, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Assam and others. Furthermore, the fair will provide a platform to promote and popularise the various schemes of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It will also provide a platform to disseminate information about the programs of the three national corporations — NSFDC, NSKFDC, and NBCFDC to create awareness among the general public, the minister added.

The Union Minister also spoke about the TULIP initiative, describing it as a new program aimed at marketing quality products of specific groups to the public in India and abroad through various e-platforms. These products are branded under the name “Traditional Artisans’ Upliftment Livelihood Improvement Programme (TULIP).” The TULIP brand provides a platform for artisans from these specific groups to sell their products online. The initiative not only aims to empower these communities economically but also to preserve traditional arts and promote their significance, the Minister stated.

Speaking about the pro-people schemes of the government, Shri Ramdas Athawale said that the central government has formulated several schemes for the welfare of the backward and poor and people should take advantage of these. Several schemes like Mudra Loan Scheme, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana have improved the living standards of the people. At present, India’s economy stands at the 4th position and will jump to 1st position in the coming days. With new industries and development, India will soon become a developed nation, he said.

Beneficiaries participating in the Shilp Samagam Fair would be provided with free stalls, travel expenses, daily allowances and transportation for their goods, as well as food and accommodation facilities, the minister informed.

 

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