A Step Towards Strengthening Women’s Economy
Almora. A Sakhi Bazaar outlet was inaugurated on Tuesday at Atharbani Gram Sabha under Hawalbagh development block. The outlet, launched with the support of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and the Rural Development Department, was jointly inaugurated by Minister of State Ganga Bisht and Chief Development Officer Ramji Sharan Sharma.
The main objective of Sakhi Bazaar is to encourage rural women towards entrepreneurship, provide them with a market platform for their products, and make them self-reliant. Through this outlet, women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) will be able to exhibit and sell their products.
Chief Development Officer Ramji Sharan Sharma said this is the second Sakhi Bazaar in the district, and it will be run through the efforts of SHGs. Minister of State Ganga Bisht added that Sakhi Bazaar will not only promote women entrepreneurship but will also help local products gain recognition and reach larger markets.
SHG President Nisha Joshi said this initiative will provide employment to women and strengthen their economy. Gram Pradhan Vinod Joshi termed it an excellent example of women empowerment and promotion of indigenous products.
It is noteworthy that under NRLM, women associated with SHGs receive training in various economic activities and improve their standard of living by marketing their products. Sakhi Bazaar provides a platform for these efforts, where food items, handicrafts, and household products are displayed. It also gives women opportunities for marketing, branding, and direct access to customers.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by District Panchayat Member Mamta Kanwal, NRLM DTE Ganga Arya, Block Development Officers S.S. Dariyal and Ramesh Kanwal, Block Mission Manager Rahmat Hussain, Village Development Officer Pankaj Sunori, Area Coordinator Kamla Joshi, CLF President Seema Kumari, Deepa Upreti, and a large number of SHG women.
