Pune: Umed Savitri, a store of products made by women’s self-help groups (SHGs), was inaugurated at the Pune airport by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union agriculture minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan on Tuesday.Although the stall began selling items such as handbags, ornaments, food products and honey in the end of March, it was formally inaugurated on Tuesday.The stall also features ready-to-cook instant puranpoli pre-mix, gift items and many other artefacts.“This initiative is part of the Avsar (Airport as a Venue for Skilled Artisans of the Region) scheme by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). It is the first time an SHG in Maharashtra secured a stall at an airport. The products are primarily made and sold by the SHGs, with no additional payment to the women managing the store. The aim is to provide a platform for SHGs to sell their handmade goods to an international clientele,” said project director Shalini Kadu of the district rural development agency, Pune ZP.Kadu said the ZP trained 20 women to manage the affairs at the stall and such a training of another batch of 20 women is underway. Seema Dhongare (45) from Junnar Taluka is part of the Varsubai Self Help Group, which has 10 women from the neighbouring areas.“We make ready-mixes for puran poli, dhokla, idli, etc. There is another group that makes bags, ornaments, etc. The sale for bags is high as they are easy to carry and useful in an airport,” Dhongare told TOI.It is not easy for Dhongare to reach airport. She and other members have to make a 85-km trip from their houses to reach airport twice a week. “We change three buses to reach the airport,” she said.“Ready-mixes are not high on sale, but we love the opportunity to market our product on a bigger platform. If we sit at home, we won’t understand the business or marketing part of it. Our production, however, has increased with sale comparatively,” said Dhongare.If needed: CMO Maharashtra tweetTransformative steps towards women’s empowerment!CM Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the ‘UMED-SAVITRI’ Stall at Pune Airport. This stall will serve as a key support, offering help and hope to skilled women entrepreneurs and promoting women’s upliftment through self-reliance and economic empowerment. MSID:: 121624401 413 |
