PATNA, Jan. 5 -- The month-long Bihar Saras Mela drew to a close on Sunday at Gandhi Maidan, leaving behind a trail of impressive numbers and heartfelt stories of rural women turning into confident entrepreneurs. Rural development minister Shravan Kumar, speaking at the closing ceremony, underscored how the state government's schemes are reaching the remotest corners and changing lives for the better. "Jivika is making every effort to ensure that the benefits of schemes reach the very last person," the minister said. He proudly noted that Bihar became the first state in the country to launch the Chief Minister's Women Employment Scheme and the Sustainable Livelihood Plan. "Women are joining these programmes in huge numbers and bringing real prosperity to their families," he added, urging everyone to unite behind Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's vision of pushing Bihar into the top five states. The fair, which ran from December 12 to January 4 under Jivika (Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society), turned into a massive marketplace for rural talent. Officials reported sales crossing Rs.28.52 crore over the 24 days, while an estimated 18 lakh visitors poured in to browse, taste, and buy. Women from self-help groups across all 38 districts of Bihar set up stalls alongside participants from 24 other states, making it a truly national showcase. More than 200 SHGs from Bihar took part, joined by 50 stalls highlighting various government schemes. During the closing event, minister Kumar walked through the grounds, stopping to admire handmade crafts and chat with the artisans. He later handed out certificates and mementos to the top-selling women entrepreneurs. Among those honoured were Prem Lata Devi, Moni Kumari, Krishna Devi and Varjish Begum from Bihar, along with Rehnuma from Uttar Pradesh. Two of the award winners - Prem Lata Devi and Rehnuma - shared their personal journeys on stage, talking about how they went from village homes to running successful small businesses. Their stories drew loud applause from the crowd....