President Droupadi Murmu Visits Vijayawada’s Kanaka Durga Temple

President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday for a two-day visit, receiving a welcome from Governor S. Abdul Nazeer at Gannavaram Airport. Later in the evening, she visited the Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Temple atop Indrakeeladri in Vijayawada to offer prayers. On Thursday, the President will attend the Saras Aajeevika Mela at Punnami Ghat as the chief guest, highlighting the role of rural women entrepreneurs in strengthening local livelihoods.

The President is scheduled to participate in the event from 11.30 am to 1 pm. The fair is being jointly organised by the Union Ministry of Rural Development and the Andhra Pradesh government to promote products made by rural women and provide them with greater market access. After the programme, Murmu will have lunch with members of self-help groups (SHGs) and Lakhpati Didis between 1.10 pm and 2.10 pm. She is expected to reach Gannavaram Airport at 2.45 pm before departing for New Delhi.

The Saras Aajeevika Mela is organised under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). The initiative seeks to connect rural artisans and women-led self-help groups with consumers beyond their local markets, enabling them to improve sales and build sustainable livelihoods.

The fair, which will continue until October 31, features more than 500 stalls displaying handicrafts, handloom textiles and a wide range of other products made by women from self-help groups across the country. By allowing producers to sell directly to urban customers, the exhibition aims to reduce market barriers and create better income opportunities for rural households.

A key focus of the event is the promotion of Lakhpati Didis. The term refers to women from self-help groups whose annual household income reaches at least ₹1 lakh and who sustain an average monthly income exceeding ₹10,000 over a minimum of four agricultural or business cycles.

Beyond sales, the fair aims to help rural women improve their skills in packaging, branding and marketing, enabling them to make their products more competitive. It also supports the Centre's 'Vocal for Local' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' initiatives by encouraging locally made goods, rural entrepreneurship and greater economic independence for women.