Women of self-help groups are becoming self-reliant through NABARD’s ‘Gram Dukaan’.

Raipur : National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has encouraged women empowerment by deciding to provide grant assistance to self-help groups for setting up rural markets. The objective of these markets is to provide a platform to women self-help groups to market and promote their handmade products. The ‘Gram Dukaan’ initiative run by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is proving effective in improving the living standards of women of self-help groups and empowering them economically. The village shop established near the Patal Bhairavi temple in Rajnandgaon has emerged as a powerful medium for women groups to advance their talents, skills and small enterprises.
In this village shop, various products manufactured locally by women self-help groups are available for sale. These include puja items, pickles, papad, murku, nadda, bijauri, murabba, candles, incense sticks, soap, jimikand, flowers, mushrooms, clothes, various food items, spices, dona-pattal, decoration items and other household items. Women groups are packaging their products attractively and selling them through village shops, due to which they are getting regular income. Village shop operator Nisha Mandavi said that due to its location near Patal Bhairavi temple, the products are getting good response from the devotees coming here.
Under the Gram Dukaan Scheme, NABARD has provided a free shop to the women of the group, which has given them an accessible and permanent platform to sell their products. This initiative is an important step towards rural women becoming self-reliant and is also strengthening the local economy.
This initiative of NABARD is becoming an excellent example of women empowerment and promotion of rural entrepreneurship.