The Government of India has stepped up initiatives to strengthen enterprises run by Self-Help Group (SHG) members in Chhattisgarh under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). Responding to a question raised in Parliament by Member of Parliament Bhojraj Nag and others, Minister of State for Rural Development Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani said that a series of measures have been taken to improve ease of doing business, expand market access, and impart advanced training to SHG women.As part of efforts to link SHG products with larger markets, the Ministry of Rural Development has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with leading e-commerce platforms including Flipkart, Amazon, and Meesho, enabling SHG producers, artisans, and weavers to reach national consumers. An MoU has also been inked with Patanjali for marketing SHG products, while the government’s own platform e-Saras (www.esaras.in) provides an additional avenue for online sales. Further, SHG products are being promoted through the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).In Chhattisgarh, SHG members are being supported to establish and scale up their enterprises through the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP), One Stop Facility Centres (OSF), and Micro Enterprises Development (MED). Food processing enterprises promoted by SHG members also receive assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme, which provides seed capital along with training. Additionally, SHG products are showcased regularly at SARAS Aajeevika fairs at both the state and national levels to ensure wider marketing opportunities.On the skill development front, Dr. Pemmasani informed that SHG members, particularly women, undergo regular training programmes focusing on marketing skills, branding, packaging, social media promotion, and e-marketing. The National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRD&PR) has conducted 44 capacity-building programmes in the last three years covering advanced topics such as value chain development, export marketing, and sales communication.The government believes these measures will not only boost livelihood opportunities for rural women in Chhattisgarh but also ensure that SHG products gain greater visibility and competitiveness in national markets.
