Uttarakhand: Kiren Rijiju, CM inaugurate 6th Lok Samvardhan Parv

Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Saturday inaugurated the sixth edition of Lok Samvardhan Parv at Parade Ground in Dehradun. The event is being organised for the first time in collaboration with a state government under the PM VIKAS Scheme, marking a new phase of Centre-State partnership to promote traditional arts, crafts and entrepreneurship.
According to agency reports,the five-day festival has been jointly organised by the Ministry of Minority Affairs and the Uttarakhand Minorities Welfare and Waqf Development Corporation. Around 150 exhibition and food stalls have been set up, showcasing handicrafts, handloom products, regional cuisines and heritage crafts from different parts of the country. The event also includes live craft demonstrations, cultural performances, buyer-seller interactions and entrepreneurship sessions designed to improve market access for artisans.

Dehradun, Uttarakhand: In Dehradun, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju inaugurated the sixth 'Lok Samvardhan Parv', with Uttarakhand becoming the first state in the country to partner with the Centre in organising the event. pic.twitter.com/hy6XFLIyLv

— IANS (@ians_india) July 11, 2026

Addressing the gathering, Rijiju said the Narendra Modi-led government remains committed to the principle of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" and is working to ensure inclusive development for every section of society without discrimination. He said Lok Samvardhan Parv has emerged as an important national platform where artisans, weavers, craftspeople and entrepreneurs can display their skills and connect with larger markets.The Union Minister described the festival as a celebration of India's rich cultural diversity rather than an event limited to minority communities. He said the initiative aims to preserve traditional crafts while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for artisans. Urging visitors to support the "Vocal for Local" campaign, he appealed to people to purchase indigenous products displayed at the exhibition.
Rijiju said the festival brings together a wide variety of Made in India handicrafts, handloom products and regional cuisines from across the country. He added that the Ministry of Minority Affairs continues to focus on the socio-economic empowerment of minority communities through education, skill development, entrepreneurship and better market linkages. He also announced his plans to visit remote areas of Uttarakhand after the monsoon in consultation with Chief Minister Dhami.
Speaking on the occasion, Dhami said Uttarakhand was proud to host Lok Samvardhan Parv for the first time and become the first state to partner with the Ministry of Minority Affairs in organising the flagship programme. He said the festival would familiarise the younger generation with India's traditional art forms while providing local artisans an opportunity to showcase their work before a national audience.Highlighting the state's efforts for minority welfare, the Chief Minister said scholarships are being provided to economically weaker minority students from Class I to Ph.D. level, while infrastructure and development projects are being implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram.He also spoke about the Mukhyamantri Hunar Yojana, under which eligible beneficiaries can avail term loans of up to Rs 20 lakh to establish businesses. According to him, initiatives such as House of Himalayas and the One District Two Products Scheme are helping promote Uttarakhand's traditional products in markets across the country.
Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Dr. Srivatsa Krishna, said the Dehradun edition marks the festival's debut in Uttarakhand since its launch in 2024. He informed that nearly 150 artisans are participating in the event, including around 90 women artisans, reflecting the government's emphasis on women's empowerment and inclusive growth.During the inaugural function, dignitaries were felicitated and the Uttarakhand government released a commemorative postal envelope to mark the sixth edition of the festival.
Nearly 40 per cent of the exhibition stalls have been allocated to artisans from Uttarakhand, while participants from across India are displaying products such as Ajrakh block prints, lac bangles, brassware, woodcraft, terracotta items, cane and bamboo products, handloom textiles and several other traditional crafts.The cultural programme will feature performances by noted artists including Jyoti Nooran, Kishan Mahipal, Vivek Nautiyal, Maya Upadhyay, Pandavaas and Parmish Verma. Visitors can also enjoy traditional Pahadi and Kumaoni cuisine along with popular dishes from various regions of the country.
Open to the public from July 11 to 15 between 11.30 a.m. and 9 p.m., the festival will also host digital marketing workshops, entrepreneurship sessions and buyer-seller meetings to help artisans expand their businesses and strengthen their market presence.According to the Ministry of Minority Affairs, the previous five editions of Lok Samvardhan Parv have provided more than 550 artisans, weavers and culinary experts with opportunities for business development and wider market access. The Dehradun edition is expected to further strengthen efforts to preserve India's traditional heritage while creating new economic opportunities for artisans through closer cooperation between the Centre and the state government.