Yog Raj Sharma
The North News
Shimla, January 5
A three-day MSME festival has opened at the historic Ridge in Shimla, showcasing local entrepreneurship and setting a new Guinness World Records milestone with the display of 4,023 handmade Himachali shawls. The festival aims to provide a platform for local entrepreneurs, start-ups, self-help groups and artisans to exhibit handicrafts, handloom products and other locally made goods. Officials say the event is expected to support job creation and strengthen the state’s economy and will end today. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who inaugurated the festival, said Himachal’s shawls, caps and handicrafts were gaining recognition worldwide. He described the Guinness record as a moment of pride that reflects the state’s rich traditions and the skill of its artisans.
Sukhu said the state government was encouraging small industries, start-ups and self-help groups by maximising the use of central government schemes and subsidies. Efforts, he added, were focused on improving quality, branding and market access to help make local youth and artisans self-reliant. On the sidelines of the event, the Chief Minister also addressed other issues. Commenting on the death of a student in Dharamshala, he said a professor had been suspended and that further action would follow if allegations were confirmed based on video evidence. A committee has been set up to examine the case.
Sukhu also spoke about the Nalagarh blast, saying the National Investigation Agency and forensic teams were investigating the incident. He said claims of responsibility by Babbar Khalsa were being probed jointly by Himachal Pradesh and Punjab police.
