Osmanabadi products at the Mahalakshmi Saras Mart, Gram Vikas Bhavan, Kharghar....

Osmanabadi products at the Mahalakshmi Saras Mart, Gram Vikas Bhavan, Kharghar....

Osmanabad, the name conjures images of the 1993 earthquake which devastated parts of Latur and Osmanabad districts of Maharashtra. In contrast is MSRLM, resurrecting lives of the poorest in the villages through social and financial inclusion and leading them to sustainable livelihoods. The efforts made by MSRLM under the Department of Rural Development, Government of Maharashtra during the last five years are now bearing fruit. The SHGs who have been capacitated are now able to initiate small enterprises and make a living. MSRLM is providing support for sustainable agriculture or allied activities like poultry, goatery, food processing, handicrafts, handlooms and marketing to about 4 lakh Self-help groups and 40 lakh households. More than 12 lakh livelihoods have been made possible due to the interventions of MSRLM.
Market linkages to the SHGs are provided through various Saras exhibitions in districts and divisional headquarters. The Mahalakshmi Saras held every year at BKC, Bandra at Mumbai has a special status. It is the most sought after event by Mumbaikars.
There is a constant demand for authentic products made by the women of Self-help groups by citizens  of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. It was with this idea that the Mahalakshmi Saras Mart has been set up at Gram Vikas Bhavan, Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. Every ten days one district form the state comes to exhibit and sell their products there.
Presently products from Osmanabad district are on sale.
The women have brought unique goods like Banjara jewellery, mirror work articles, handmade bags, footwear. The agarbatties, incense sticks with a variety perfumes brought by one SHG can make your homes divine. There are different kinds of masalas, organic jagerry, papads, pulses, ghee- calrified butter . The special Osmanabadi pedhas made from pure milk melt in you mouth and make you ask for more. Gio Goat milk soap made from goat milk will make your skin glow.
Two SHGs are also cooking special Osmanabadi food like Dahi Dhapaate, thaali peeth, bhaji and Osmanabadi non-vegetrarian dishes.
And of course the mangoes from Konkan Ratnagiri and Devgad are still there as also the permanent shop selling gift articles and other items made by SHGs from all over the state.
A visit to The Mahalakshmi Saras Mart will not only introduce you the work being done the SHG women of MSRLM but also give you an opportunity to buy genuine products made by SHGs Osmanabad.
On my visit to make purchases yesterday,
I was so overwhelmed by their warmth and enthusiasm. Each one of them spoke about how much effort they put in to make products of good quality. Their motherly feeling and earthly touch was so ingenuous. As if each one was reveberating the aura of Ma Tulja Bhavani of Tuljapur in Osmanabad.  Legends say that it was Her blessings which made the great Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj what he was. So do visit The Mahalakshmi Saras Mart to see and purchase the products of SHG women from Osmanabad. I am sure their blessings combined with those of Maa Tulja Bhavani will make you ferl enriched.