UKHRUL, Dec 18 : The closing ceremony of the four-day grand Swajal Gram Swaraj Yojana, SGSY, and Self Help Groups, SHS, Handloom Fair 2009 at Tangkhul Naga Long,TNL, ground was smoothly concluded today with Ukhrul deputy commissioner N. Ashok Kumar, as chief guest.
The DC was the brain behind in organizing the winter show and executed by Tangkhul Naga Long, TNL, under its president Stephen Angkang.
Angkang was guest of honour at the function. All district level officers, DLOs, alongwith the staff members of the Ukhrul DRDA and DC office were present.
Speaking on the ocassion, the DC Ukhrul emphasized that all Centrally sponsored schemes under the "flagship" programme in the UPA`s common minimum programme for the rural poor will not be successful without the peoples` participation and the success of the first of its kind in the district is an "eye-opener".
This should help in taking forward all kinds of developmental activities in such a poverty hit areas like Ukhrul.
He further deliberated that though overall sale percentage of the stalls during the exibition was only 25% there is a lot to learnt.
He said the turnout of 100 shops was a huge encouragement and should foster more innovative and creative ideas in the future.
The DC also highlighted that over-all sales proceeding in the mela touched a sum of Rs. 15 lakhs.
He also appreciated and conveyed heartfelt gratitudes to all his subordinate staffs in the district, NGOs and the massive co-operation from the general public and coined the support as the "pillar of the Ukhrul administration".
The chief guest distributed a sum of Rs. 10,000 each to Mayotang SHG and Ngarumi of Tolloi SHG as the first prize winners, Rs 5,000 to Lakleiphi SHG of Somdal 2nd prize and Rs 2,000 to Themchuirin SHG of Ukhrul Phungreitang.
Prizes were also given to seven SHGs as consolation prizes plus wool packages were equally distributed among the fair exibition participants from all over the villages.
Pop musicians and song artistes both from Imphal and Ukhrul including Uttam, Naoboy, Ms. Remnu, Akui Source Mashangva, Shimreingam, Achan, Chon Chon made the ending a grand show.