Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government has launched a series of women-centric initiatives to strengthen rural women’s economic empowerment, expand market access for self-help group products and promote women-led entrepreneurship. Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel virtually inaugurated around 136 Sakhi Mandal-managed Gram Haats at bus stations across 27 districts from Rajkot on Friday.
Describing the initiatives as a Navratri gift to the women of Gujarat, the Chief Minister also inaugurated a three-day Saras Mela at Race Course Ground in Rajkot and launched several programmes aimed at making rural women economically self-reliant.
The initiatives include:
- Improved marketing opportunities for products made by Sakhi Mandals.
- Digital entrepreneurship training and mentorship.
- Women-run Amul milk parlours.
- Financial assistance for self-help groups.
- Residential plots for families from nomadic and denotified communities.
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Jitu Vaghani and Rural Development Minister Kunvarji Bavaliya were among the dignitaries present at the event.
Gujarat Govt Launches 136 Gram Haats Across 27 Districts
The newly inaugurated Gram Haats will provide dedicated spaces for women associated with Sakhi Mandals to sell their products at bus stations across Gujarat. The initiative aims to help rural women reach a wider customer base and generate better income from their skills, handicrafts and homemade food products.
The state government has also developed facilities at bus and railway stations to promote the sale of self-help group products, supporting the Vocal for Local initiative.
By connecting women producers with public transport hubs, the programme seeks to improve market access and create more opportunities for rural entrepreneurs to establish sustainable businesses.
13 MoUs Signed to Expand Women’s Business Opportunities
The Gujarat Livelihood Promotion Company Limited (GLPC) signed 13 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with government departments, financial institutions, educational organisations and other partners to strengthen the marketing and sale of products made by women from self-help groups.
The partnerships involve organisations and institutions including:
- Railways and Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation (GSRTC).
- The state’s Animal Husbandry and Cooperation departments.
- Amul.
- MICA and the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII).
- National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT).
- Sardar Patel Agricultural University.
- State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB), ICICI Bank, Bank of Baroda and Central Bank of India.
The agreements are intended to improve access to markets, financial services, institutional support and entrepreneurship opportunities for women associated with Sakhi Mandals.
NIFT, MICA and Other Institutions to Mentor Women Entrepreneurs
The state government is also focusing on helping women move beyond traditional product sales and develop digital businesses.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said reputed institutions, including NIFT, MICA and DWII, would provide mentorship and guidance to women to help them become successful digital entrepreneurs.
The initiative is expected to support women in improving their business skills, reaching customers through digital platforms and expanding the market for locally produced goods.
Amul to Set Up Women-Run Milk Parlours in 18,000 Villages
Another major announcement concerns the establishment of women-run Amul milk parlours across Gujarat.
According to the Chief Minister, Amul will set up these parlours in 18,000 villages to create additional livelihood opportunities for women. An MoU was signed between GLPC and Amul to advance the initiative. The programme aims to expand women’s participation in the dairy sector and provide them with opportunities to earn through milk parlour operations.
More Than 8.5 Lakh Women in Gujarat Become Lakhpati Didis
Highlighting the state’s progress in women’s economic empowerment, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said more than 8.5 lakh women in Gujarat had become Lakhpati Didis.
He said around 30 lakh rural women were associated with approximately 2.5 lakh Sakhi Mandals across the state and were earning incomes through their skills and livelihood activities.
The Chief Minister also noted that the state government had provided Rs 800 crore in assistance last year to support women’s economic empowerment. He said the government was prepared to extend greater assistance in the coming years.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, Patel said the national goal was to make six crore women across India Lakhpati Didis by 2029.
He expressed confidence that the initiatives launched in Rajkot would contribute to the future prosperity of rural Gujarat.
Bhupendra Patel Highlights Women-Led Development
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision was to make women partners in development rather than merely beneficiaries of government schemes.
He congratulated the departments and ministers involved in launching the initiatives to help women become economically self-reliant.
The Chief Minister said the programmes reflected the Gujarat government’s commitment to women’s empowerment ahead of Navratri, a festival associated with the worship of Shakti.
He also highlighted initiatives undertaken during Narendra Modi’s tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister, including the establishment of the Women and Child Development Department and the introduction of the Nari Gaurav Niti.
Jitu Vaghani Says Over 3 Lakh Sakhi Mandals Promote Self-Reliance
Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Jitu Vaghani said more than three lakh Sakhi Mandals across Gujarat were helping women become Aatmanirbhar through collective economic activities. He credited the Gujarat Livelihood Promotion Company and the Sakhi Mandal network with bringing positive changes to the lives of rural women.
Vaghani also said better coordination between the Cooperation Department and the Animal Husbandry Department would further strengthen women’s economic empowerment, particularly in dairy-related activities. The integration of livelihood programmes, cooperative networks and animal husbandry services is intended to create additional opportunities for women to increase their earnings.
Saras Melas Generate Rs 40 Crore in Sales for Self-Help Groups
Rural Development Minister Kunvarji Bavaliya highlighted the contribution of Saras Melas in helping women market their products and become financially independent.
He said approximately 8,500 self-help groups had generated sales of around Rs 40 crore through 236 Saras Melas held across Gujarat over the past five years.
According to Bavaliya, rural women were no longer limited to household responsibilities but were contributing to the development of Gujarat and the country through their skills, craftsmanship and entrepreneurial activities.
He also highlighted the role of the Mission Mangalam initiative in promoting women’s economic empowerment.
Three-Day Saras Mela Opens in Rajkot
After arriving in Rajkot, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel inaugurated the three-day Saras Mela at Race Course Ground and interacted with women representing self-help groups.
Women participants welcomed the initiative and thanked the government for providing them with a platform to display and sell their products.
They said stalls at the fair had been allotted free of cost, without rental charges, enabling them to showcase their products and explore employment and income-generating opportunities.
Highlights of the Saras Mela:
- Three-day event organised at Race Course Ground in Rajkot.
- Participation of women from self-help groups across the state.
- Free stall allotment without rental charges, according to the participating women.
- Opportunities to display and sell handicrafts and other locally made products.
Rs 45 Lakh in Financial Assistance Distributed to Self-Help Groups
As part of the event, Amul parlour allotment letters and cash credit cheques worth Rs 45 lakh were distributed to various self-help groups.
The distribution included:
- Rs 40 lakh: Cash credit cheques for self-help groups engaged in dairy-related activities.
- Rs 1,08,640: Cheques distributed to other Sakhi Mandals under the e-commerce incentive scheme.
- Amul parlour allotment letters: Distributed to support women entering milk parlour businesses.
The financial assistance is intended to help women strengthen their businesses, access working capital and expand their participation in commercial activities.
Residential Plots Allotted to 139 Nomadic and Denotified Community Families
In another initiative, the Chief Minister distributed free residential plots to 139 families from nomadic and denotified communities in Rajkot district. The allotments were made under the spirit of Antyodaya, which focuses on supporting disadvantaged sections of society.
The measure aims to provide residential security to eligible families and extend the benefits of development initiatives to vulnerable communities.
Gujarat Government Expands Opportunities for Rural Women
The initiatives launched in Rajkot bring together market access, financial assistance, digital entrepreneurship, dairy-related livelihoods and institutional partnerships to strengthen women’s economic participation.
The major initiatives include:
- 136 Gram Haats: To expand the market access of Sakhi Mandal products across 27 districts.
- 13 MoUs: To strengthen partnerships with government departments, institutions, banks and other organisations.
- 18,000 villages: Planned coverage for women-run Amul milk parlours.
- Digital entrepreneurship: Mentorship from institutions such as NIFT, MICA and DWII.
- Financial assistance: Cash credit and e-commerce incentive support for self-help groups.
- Residential support: Free plots allotted to 139 families from nomadic and denotified communities.
The programmes are designed to help rural women turn their skills into sustainable businesses, improve household incomes and contribute more actively to Gujarat’s economic development.
The event was attended by Rajkot Mayor Dr Nehal Shukla, District Panchayat President Sanjay Pipaliya, MP Parshottam Rupala, several MLAs, senior government officials, Sakhi Mandal members and a large number of citizens.
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