Bhubaneswar, Dec 04: Under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Parsad Padhi an interdepartmental coordination meeting was held for Toshali Craft Mela of Odisha now acclaimed as a National Craft Mela at state secretariat today.
Reviewing the progress, Chief Secretary has directed concerned departments to focus on traffic regulation and fire safety. Padhi has directed to ensure safe wiring of all electric connections with appropriate protective measures to avoid any close circuit incident.
The department had been advised to scale up the business turn over in handloom & textile products. It has been proposed to organize the Mela from 15th to 27th December, 2015.
This year the theme pavilion will showcase “IKAT” weaving of the State with tagline “Odisha Hand Wovens: Heritage Ethnic Wear”. There will be a separate stall to show case men’s wear developed by all 4 marketing organizations like Utkalika, Bayanika, Amlan and Sambalpuri Bastralaya.
There will be near about 445 stalls this year from among which around 150 stalls will be from other States. The Mela will have a food court with 30 established hoteliers and restaurants.
The cultural programme will be held every day from 6.30 PM to9.30PM in collaboration with Odisha Sangeet Natak Academy and Department of Culture.
The major attraction for this year is expected to be Ananya Sritam Nanda, winner Indian Idol Junir, 2015 and an exquisite Fashion show. It has been decided to keep the entire mela under CCTV surveillance with monitoring from central control room.
Besides, the facilities like 24 hours fair office, round the clock security arrangements, first aid, ambulance service, wheel chairs for old and differently able persons, free accommodation to artisan and weavers will be made available in the mela. The Play zone for children will also be available in the mela. Secretary Handloom & Textiles Arumugam said that last year the total foot fall in the mela was around 11 lakhs and this year it is expected to go up to 12 lakhs. Police Commissioner R. P. Sharma, present in the meeting said that adequate security and traffic arrangements will be made in and around the mela Director Information & Public Relations Sushil Kumar Das along with senior officers from the concerned departments participated in deliberations.
