‘State-level sales centre for SHGs to come up in Shimla’

Tribune News Service

Shimla, August 7

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh today said a state-level sales centre would be built at a cost of Rs 2 crore near The Lift for the sale of products of self-help groups (SHGs) from across the state.

The minister today inaugurated the building of Him Ira Haat that has been constructed at a cost of Rs 40 lakh at Naldehra in the Kasumpti Assembly constituency.

“A sales centre is being built in the parking of the MC near The Lift at a cost of Rs 2 crore under the National Rural Livelihood Mission. It will be ready within six months,” he said.

He said each district would be given space at the centre so that the women SHGs could strengthen their economy by selling their local products. “A packaging unit has also been set up in Gumma for the packaging of products. Apart from this, a warehouse will be built in New Shimla so that the products of entire Himachal can be packaged here and good prices can be obtained,” he said.

Anirudh said the Himachal Government was preparing its own online portal to sell local products. “The Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department is in the process of signing an agreement with Amazon and Flipkart and registering them so that all local products of Himachal can be sold online,” he said. He said providing a platform to women SHGs to sell their products prepared from organic manure was a commendable initiative by the government.

“Earlier, there was no platform for women SHGs to display and sell crafts such as Chamba rumaal, Kangra paintings, and Kinnauri and Kullvi caps and other handicrafts, so the present government took an initiative under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), which will prove helpful in increasing the income of such women,” he said. He said providing local women a platform to sell local products would make them economically independent.

Anirudh also inaugurated a Him Ira Haat and premium store in Chhota Shimla.