States » NorthPosted at: Oct 22 2026 3:45PM


Lucknow Diwali Mela to showcase Akanksha initiative that has provided work to over 120 Women

Lucknow, Oct 22 (UNI) UP IASOWA’s first Diwali Mela on October 24 will bring women’s livelihood initiatives into Lucknow’s festive marketplace, including products from Akanksha Samiti’s Masala Mathri Kendra, which has provided employment to more than 120 women.
The spices and snacks produced through the Lucknow centre will feature alongside women’s enterprises, regional crafts and products associated with welfare institutions. For Akanksha, the mela offers an opportunity to connect its work on women’s incomes with customers shopping for Diwali.
Organised by the Uttar Pradesh IAS Officers’ Wives Association, UP IASOWA, the event will be held on the front lawn of CSI Club, Raj Bhavan Colony, from 11 am to 10 pm on Saturday.
Dr Neelu Goyal, president of UP IASOWA and Akanksha Samiti, said the organisation’s priority was to help women build financial independence through skills and opportunities to sell their work.
“At Akanksha, we believe that true empowerment is not a charitable gesture; it is an economic breakthrough,” Goyal said.
Building on its work in spice and snack production, Akanksha is introducing vocational stitching programmes covering professional tailoring and garment craftsmanship. The training is intended to give underprivileged women another route to earning independently.
The Samiti will also continue to bring snacks and spices made by regional women’s self help groups to market under its banner. Goyal said connecting these producers with buyers was central to helping rural women turn their skills into livelihoods.
The Diwali Mela will provide a public marketplace for this wider effort. Alongside Akanksha’s products, visitors will find handmade items from Mahila Sharanalay and offerings from Drishti NGO, allowing them to explore work associated with welfare initiatives while making their festive purchases.
The selection will include traditional sarees, chikankari, jewellery, carpets, pottery, handicrafts, apparel and home décor. Food stalls, cultural performances, games and children’s activities will accompany the shopping.
Established in 1987, Akanksha Samiti is the registered social service wing of UP IASOWA. Its committees work in several Uttar Pradesh districts, supporting women and girls through education, healthcare, skill development and income generation, while also helping women and children access welfare schemes and essential services.
UNI MBD ARN
Tags: #Lucknow Diwali Mela to showcase Akanksha initiative that has provided work to over 120 Women
More News

Power strike disrupts supply across Haryana, residents block roads as outages hit 15 districts

22 Oct 2026 | 4:35 PM

Neeraj Bali
Chandigarh, Oct 22 (UNI) A strike by electricity employees protesting the grant of a parallel power distribution licence to a private company in Gurugram and Nuh disrupted supply across large parts of Haryana on Thursday, triggering road blockades, water shortages and public anger, with outages reported even in Power Minister Anil Vij's Ambala Cantonment constituency.

see more..

IIT Kanpur, Vatican academies to hold climate resilience summit in Lucknow on Nov 3-4

22 Oct 2026 | 4:32 PM

Kanpur, Oct 22 (UNI) The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur), in partnership with the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS) and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences (PASS), Vatican City, will organise a two-day summit in Lucknow on November 3-4 to explore sustainable agriculture, water and energy solutions to tackle climate change and strengthen rural livelihoods.

see more..

Himachal approves Nutrition Policy 2026 to combat malnutrition, promote traditional diets

22 Oct 2026 | 4:28 PM

Shimla, Oct 22 (UNI) The Himachal Pradesh government has approved the Himachal Pradesh Nutrition Policy, 2026, aimed at combating malnutrition, anaemia and micronutrient deficiencies, improving dietary diversity and addressing emerging diet-related diseases.

see more..

Gurugram: Old Delhi road stretch near Atul Kataria chowk to remain closed till Oct 27

22 Oct 2026 | 4:26 PM

Gurugram, Oct 22 (UNI) A stretch of Old Delhi Road leading towards Lieutenant Atul Kataria Chowk will remain closed to traffic from 8 pm on October 23 to 5 pm on October 27 due to ongoing construction work by the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA).

see more..

New Initiative in UP towards Filaria elimination: Focus shifts to reaching those who have ‘Never Taken’ the Medication

22 Oct 2026 | 4:03 PM

Lucknow, Oct 22 (UNI) With the goal of making Uttar Pradesh Filaria-free, the focus has now shifted toward those who have remained outside the scope of the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign.

see more..