Umed SHG products, now at R-City Mall, Ghatkopar....

Umed SHG products, now at R- City Mall, Ghatkopar....

R-City Mall, Ghatkopar, one of the largest malls in Mumbai, thronged by lakhs of people, a shoppers paradise, a place where entrepreneurs vie with each other to exhibit their products. A dream for Self help groups of women to exhibit their products and sell them. However, this dream became a reality on 9th June 2018 thanks to the efforts made by Ms. Sangeeta Lalwani, Chairperson, FICCI FLO, Pune and the other members of FICCI FLO Pune.
MSRLM works under the aegis of NRLM for empowerment of women through self help groups. Training them in social and financial inclusion and building their capacities for sustainable livelihoods are the prime objectives. Maharashtra has more than 2 lakhs of SHGs and over 33 lakh households under it's umbrella. Of these more than 5 lakh have access to livelihood activities. Marketing the products of the SHG, diversifying and standardising them is still a challenge.
A collaborative meeting with Rotarians of Panvel and Pune and members of FICCI FLO Pune, to discuss these aspects and accelerate livelihoods of SHGs was held at the SMU of MSRLM . A few members of the SHGs showcased their enterprise and spoke about their experiences as social entrepreneurs. The women shared their experiences with great enthusiasm. Some made bags or artefacts, some traded in pounded rice, some made spices and masalas yet each had a story of success. They all zeroed in on market access.
We were listening to them with rapt attention, admiring their confidence, their desire to grow and reach for the stars.
Sangeeta Lalwani, present at the meeting felt their ethos. She generously used her good offices and sought permission from the head of Runwal group for setting up a SHGs stall at R City Mall Ghatkopar.
The R City Mall at Ghatkopar is not only one of the biggest malls but also a very happening place. An opportunity for exhibition and sale of SHG products therein on weekends was like dream come true.
A lot of meticulous planning was done by the FICCI FLO Pune team, the R City mall staff and our team.
The SHG stalls were inaugurated
at the hands of Mrs.Chanda Runwal and Ms.Vinita Bhimbet former FICCI FLO President.
Bridgestone, the renowned tyre company, was one of the main sponsors to support this initiative. Tej pratap Tripathi, Assistant Manager of Bridgestone promised to give the best support possible.
Ten SHGs from the districts of Palghar, Talasari, Dahanu, Ambarnath, Murbad and Ratnagiri showcased their products which included Warli paintings, colourful jackets, variety of spices and masalas, pickles and paapads, satin thread jewellery, jute bags, cashew nuts, colourful diyaas.
I interacted with the all the women who had got this exclusive privilege of marketing their products at such a renowned mall. All of them were very overwhelmed by this gesture.They were happy to get an opportunity to exhibit their products at R-City thanks to Sangeeta Lalwani, FICCI FLO Pune and Bridgestone.
True to it's motto, FICCI FLO, Pune had unleashed it's power to empower. The whole group took the effort to travel from Pune to Mumbai for this noble cause. They had shown new horizons to the SHGs by making this platform available to them. The inaugural function was a cosy event and the SHG women settled into brisk business.
My heart said a silent prayer and bowed in gratitude to God that He had made rhis possible. Wishing the SHGs a super business I left with plans in my mind for the next week.....

P.S. The products of SHGs will be on exhibition and sale every weekend at RCity Mall Ghatkopar....