Coming soon: Mini mall for self-help groups’ products – Times of India

Nagpur: Around 17,000 self-help groups (SHGs) from the rural part of the district, having more than two lakh women as members, will have a ‘mini mall’ at Civil Lines to display and sell their products. SHGs from the city and the rest of Vidarbha too can access the free facility, which has been proposed by the zilla parishad (ZP) in front of the collector’s office.
ZP authorities have now got approval from the state government for starting the work — budgeted at Rs3 crore — diverting the three percent allocation from the district planning council (DPC) fund, as per the policy under the women and child development department.
In Nagpur district, a couple of SHGs have started selling their products on e-commerce platforms. At the proposed mini mall, products ranging from eatables and spices to garments, and locally-made gems and jewellery to home decor will be available.
ZP CEO Yogesh Kumbhejkar said the mini mall will function as a one-stop solution for the SHGs to display and market their products. “The proposed mini mall is going to come up on the land owned by ZP. First, the ground floor will be readied. Subsequently, the facility can be expanded depending upon the availability of funds and viability of the project,” he said.
Kumbhejkar said the SHGs will get the benefit of the mini mall on a rotational basis. “We will encourage the SHGs to ensure that women run the show at the mini mall too, selling their products at the counters,” said the CEO, adding that several outlets will be there for customers to find their choices. “We are hopeful as the facility is coming up at a prime location,” he said.
Work on the mini mall, which is being co-ordinated by Vivek Ilme, project director, district rural development agency, is expected to start soon.
ZP president Rashmi Barve said the mini mall will solve the problems faced by the SGHs in marketing their products. “The project will lead to empowerment of rural women and strengthen their economic position,” she said.

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