Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated and inspected stalls set up by women self-help groups under the Mukhyamantri Sashakt Behna Utsav Yojana at the Secretariat. The stalls showcase rakhis and a range of locally made products prepared by members of the Uttarakhand State Rural Livelihood Mission (USRLM).
The Chief Minister interacted virtually with women from self-help groups across all districts and learned about their products and livelihood experiences.
CM Dhami Announces 15-Day Sashakt Behna Utsav
CM Dhami announced that from next year, the Mukhyamantri Sashakt Behna Utsav will begin 15 days before Raksha Bandhan and be organised as a fortnight-long event.
He said the extended duration would provide women self-help groups with more time and better market opportunities to sell their products. The initiative is also expected to help increase their income and strengthen women-led livelihoods.
Women participating virtually from different districts thanked the Chief Minister for the initiative. They said government efforts to provide markets for SHG products are creating new livelihood opportunities and helping them become economically self-reliant.
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Over 70,000 Self-Help Groups Active Across Uttarakhand
CM Dhami said the state government launched the Mukhyamantri Sashakt Behna Utsav Yojana in 2023 to ensure that quality products made by women self-help groups do not remain limited to homes and villages.
The initiative aims to provide SHG products with wider markets, better prices and greater recognition.
According to the Chief Minister, Uttarakhand currently has:
- More than 70,000 self-help groups
- Over 5.20 lakh rural families associated with these groups
- More than 8,000 village organisations
- 615 Cluster Level Federations
These institutions are helping strengthen the rural livelihood ecosystem and expand opportunities for women across the state.
Uttarakhand Expands Marketing Network for SHG Products
The Chief Minister said the government is developing a stronger marketing system to help self-help groups sell their products.
The state currently has:
- 49 Growth Centres
- 17 Saras Centres
- 33 Nano Packaging Units
- 8 Bakery Units
- 110 sales centres operating along travel routes
These facilities are intended to improve product processing, packaging, marketing and access to consumers.
‘House of Himalayas’ Takes Local Products Towards Global Markets
CM Dhami highlighted the ‘House of Himalayas’ brand, launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as an important platform for giving Uttarakhand’s local products a “Local to Global” identity.
He said SHG products are also being connected with e-commerce and digital platforms, allowing women entrepreneurs to access wider markets beyond their local areas.
CM Dhami Urges Officials to Support Women SHGs
The Chief Minister extended advance Raksha Bandhan greetings to the people of Uttarakhand and urged Secretariat officers and employees to purchase products from the stalls and encourage women self-help groups.
He said women’s respect, safety and empowerment have been made an important part of India’s development journey under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He cited initiatives such as Ujjwala Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana and Lakhpati Didi as programmes that have contributed to positive changes in women’s lives.
CM Dhami Celebrates Raksha Bandhan with Women
On August 23, CM Dhami participated in two Raksha Bandhan programmes in Dehradun. He first attended a programme at Chaudhary Farms and later participated in an event at Survey Stadium, Hathibarkala.
Women at both programmes tied rakhis to the Chief Minister and wished him good health and a long life. Dhami expressed gratitude for their affection and blessings.
He described Raksha Bandhan as a sacred festival symbolising affection, trust, dedication and responsibility and said the occasion highlights the importance of fulfilling duties along with enjoying relationships.
CM Dhami Stresses Respect for Women
Dhami said that respecting women is not only a social responsibility but also an important foundation of India’s cultural values.
He highlighted the role of women in strengthening families, society and culture, and said that a society that respects women is truly prosperous and developed.
The Chief Minister said the affection and trust he receives from the women of Uttarakhand motivate him to continue working for the welfare and development of every citizen.
Officials Attend the Programme
The programme was attended by Principal Secretary R.K. Sudhanshu, Secretary Dheeraj Garbyal, Additional Secretary Jharna Kamthan, Anuradha Pal and Dehradun Chief Development Officer Abhinav Shah.
Chief Development Officers from all districts also participated through virtual mode.
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