Odisha Chief Secretary reviews Toshali Craft Mela arrangements

Bhubaneswar, Dec 4: As Toshali Craft Mela of Odisha now acclaimed as a National Craft Mela draws closer, administration gears up its preparatory activities in a team spirit. An interdepartmental coordination meeting to this effect was held under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary Sri Aditya Parsad Padhi today in secretariat conference hall wherein  Secretary Handloom & Textiles Smt Chithra Arumugam  presented the updates and outlined the issues for discussion.

Reviewing the progress made so far, Chief Secretary has directed concerned departments to focus on traffic regulation and fire safety. Sri 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 15^th to 27^th 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 who will cater various Odishi and other delicacies. The cultural programme will be held every day from 6.30 PM to 9.30PM in collaboration with Odisha Sangeet Natak Academy and Department of Culture. The major attraction for this year are expected to be Ananya Sritam Nanda, 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 Smt 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 Dr 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 Sri Sushil Kumar Das along with senior officers from the concerned departments participated in deliberations.