Nashik Exhibition Bridges Gap Between Rural Women SHGs and Urban Consumers
Water Resources Minister Girish Mahajan emphasized on Friday that the district-wide exhibition of products crafted by women self-help groups under the Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission has successfully connected rural enterprises with urban consumers. This initiative is significantly boosting both economic and social empowerment across the region.
High-Level Inauguration and Official Presence
Minister Mahajan was speaking at the inauguration of the divisional, mini, and district-level Saras goods exhibition and sale. This event was jointly organized by the Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission, the District Rural Development Agency, and the Nashik Zilla Parishad at the Dongre Hostel grounds.
The ceremony saw the presence of several key officials, including Food and Drug Administration Minister Narhari Zirwal, MLA Rahul Dhikle, Divisional Commissioner Dr. Praveen Gedam, Zilla Parishad CEO Omkar Pawar, Nashik Mayor Himgouri Aher, Additional Commissioner (Revenue) Ravindra Patil, former MLA Balasaheb Sanap, District Rural Development Agency Project Director Pratibha Sangamnere, and numerous other dignitaries.
Platform for Market Access and Empowerment
Mahajan highlighted that the exhibition serves as a crucial platform for providing wider market access to high-quality goods produced by rural women. "It also enabled consumers to purchase these products directly from the makers," he stated. He further noted that women self-help groups maintain an impressive record of timely loan repayment, which encourages banks to extend more financial opportunities to them.
"This exhibition will boost the productive capacity, management abilities, and entrepreneurial spirit of rural women through self-help groups," Mahajan added, underscoring the long-term benefits of such initiatives.
Commitment to Permanent Marketplaces and Product Purity
Food and Drug Administration Minister Narhari Zirwal announced that efforts would be made to establish permanent marketplaces at the district and taluka levels specifically for self-help group products. He emphasized the growing importance of these goods, particularly in light of health risks posed by adulterated food.
"SHG products, known for their purity, would become increasingly significant," Zirwal said, pointing out their role in promoting safer consumption practices.
Scale and Diversity of the Exhibition
At the festival venue, a total of 185 stalls were set up, showcasing a diverse range of products:
- 145 stalls featured goods produced by rural women's self-help groups, highlighting crafts and other handmade items.
- 40 stalls were dedicated exclusively to food products, offering consumers direct access to fresh and pure culinary offerings.
This extensive setup not only provided a vibrant marketplace but also demonstrated the substantial productive capacity of rural women entrepreneurs in Maharashtra.
