Puducherry, Mar 9 (UNI) In a bid to encourage handloom and handicraft artisans and help them to sell their products without any middlemen, the Gujarat Emporium is organising a 15-day exhibition of Gujarat Handicrafts and Handloom here from today.

Talking to newspersons here Gujarat Emporium Manager K Arunachalam said the exhibition was totally sponsored by the Development Commissioner of Handicrafts, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India and a grant of Rs 1.75 lakh was released for the same.

The exhibition would showcase handicrafts and handprinted items from Gujarat including colourful dresses, gift items, cloth, leather etc. There would be 40 stalls with different items, he added.

He said craft items from eight other states would also be on display at the exhibition, where products worth Rs 10 to Rs 10,000 would be put for sale.

A rebate of 20 per cent on handloom and 10 per cent on handicraft would be given an each product sold.

Mr Arunachalam said as many as 55 craftmen would be taking part in the expo. State award winners from Karnataka and West Bengal would be also participting, in the event.

Cheif Minister N Rangasamy inagurated the exhibition today.

UNI