JKLRM, NABARD inaugurate Rural Mart at Chersoo Awantipora

AS News Desk

Pulwama: The Jammu Kashmir Rural Livelihood Mission (JKRLM) in collaboration with National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) on Friday inaugurated a Rural Mart near NH-44 at Chersoo area of Awantipora in Pulwama district.

As per the official statement, JKRLM and NABARD have extended the grant support to Self Help Groups (SHGs) promoted under JKRLM for setting up of these Rural Marts.

The statement reads, “the NABARD has extended a grant support of Rs 5.93 lakh over a period of three years to Cluster Level Federation of Self Help Groups in Pulwama under its Rural Mart Scheme to establish and run a rural mart on National Highway, which shall facilitate the sale and purchase of products of self help groups.”

One of the officials has said that the mart aims to promote and provide platform for marketing of the local handmade products, craft items, clothing, handloom, food, dry fruits and other items, particularly produced by the women SHGs.

Pertinently, the mart was jointly inaugurated by Chief General Manager (CGM), NABARD, Dr. A.K. Sood, ADC, Awantipora Zaffar Hussain Shawl, and DGM, NABARD, Surinder Singh, while the ceremony was attended by SPM NF NRLM Yasir Ahmad, SPM Farm NRLM Dr. Rayees Ahmad and all other DPMs of NRLM Pulwama.

The officials reiterated that NABARD has committed to provide the financial support to the tune of Rs.5.93 lakh for each rural mart for a period of 03 years.

“The components such as shop rent, salary of salesman, marketing and other miscellaneous expenses shall be provided by NABARD,” they said.

Addressing the participants, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Awantipora, Zaffar Hussain Shawl has said that the rural mart to be operate by female SHGs was the first step towards women empowerment in the district.

Similarly, CGM, NABARD, Dr. Sood encouraged the female SHG members to use the mart as an opportunity for economic development and ensure the continuity, quality and quantity of local goods for all, while SPM JKRLM appreciated the SHGs for being a step ahead for such a unique initiative in the district.

Besides Deputy General Manager NABARD Surinder Singh, District Development Manager NABARD Junaid Hakeem, DPMs, Arsheed Ahmad Bhat and Irfan Basheer, the event was attended by members of various SHGs in the district.