Livelihood mission will deliver more power to women: Mahajan

Nashik: Water resources minister Girish Mahajan on Friday said the district-wide exhibition of products crafted by women self-help groups under the Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission helped connect rural enterprises with urban consumers, boosting both economic and social empowerment.Mahajan was speaking at the inauguration of the divisional, mini and district-level Saras goods exhibition and sale, jointly organised by the Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission, the District Rural Development Agency and the Nashik Zilla Parishad at the Dongre Hostel grounds.Food and drug administration minister Narhari Zirwal, MLA Rahul Dhikle, divisional commissioner Dr Praveen Gedam, ZP CEO Omkar Pawar, Nashik mayor Himgouri Aher, additional commissioner (revenue) Ravindra Patil, former MLA Balasaheb Sanap, District Rural Development Agency project director Pratibha Sangamnere and several other officials were present.Mahajan said the exhibition emerged as a key platform for offering wider market access to high-quality goods produced by rural women. "It also enabled consumers to purchase these products directly from the makers. Women SHGs maintain a strong record of timely loan repayment, which in turn encourages banks to extend more opportunities to them," he said, adding, "This exhibition will boost the productive capacity, management abilities, and entrepreneurial spirit of rural women through self-help groups."Zirwal said efforts would be made to ensure permanent marketplaces at the district and taluka levels for SHG products. Highlighting the health risks posed by adulterated food, he said SHG products, known for their purity, would become increasingly significant.At the festival venue, 185 stalls were set up, including 145 showcasing goods produced by rural women's SHGs and 40 dedicated to food products.