Gung-ho with products of SHGs from Gondia....

Gung-ho with products of SHGs from Gondia....

Rural life for uninitiated Mumbaikars like me is unfathomable on the one hand and unimaginable on the other. When one talks about places like Gondia, many may not even have heard about it.
Gondia, named after the adivasi tribal Gonds is on the east of Maharashtra, about four hours from Nagpur. Being well connected by rail and road it is developing into a prosperous place. MSRLM has also been functional in the district for the last five years and has been working for the empowerment of women through self help groups.
The district has more than 10000 SHGs engaged in various farm and non-farm activities leading to sustainable livelihoods.
The goods and products they produce are given support of forward linkages through various exhibitions like the Mahalakshmi Saras.
A permanent shop has also been opened at the Gram Vikas Bhavan, Kharghar where every ten days one district of Maharashtra comes to market their produce.
This month it is Gondia. As usual the SHGs have brought many handmade products which of course include organic jaggery, organic rice and urad dal, a variety of pulses, turmeric powder, spices, pickles and paapad. The oils include different varieties like jawas oil ( flax seed ) and sarso oil ( mustard oil ). Some of the ladies have brought interesting products of fish like fish pickles, fish shev, fish Chakli and dry fish.
Health products of aamla , gooseberry, including- pickles, amla Powder, amla candy are available and also Kaarlyachi chutney made from Niger seeds. The Ambati Syrup, Moha products are also different.
For the connoisseurs of art there are beautiful artefacts made of bamboo, jute, wool and also pottery. Artefacts like mirror holders, cloth paintings are certainly attractive. Jasmin agarbattis, incense sticks to fill your homes with fragrance during the festive season are also there. And of course a variety of cloth bags, jute bags which you can buy and fill after shopping to your heart's content.
So rush to The Mahalakshmi Saras Bazaar at Gram Vikas Bhavan before 20th August to pick unique products from Gondia.

P.S. The SHGs of Gondia will be at the Trimurti Praangan in Mantralay, Mumbai tomorrow, 19th August 2019 between 10.30 a.m to 5.30 p.m. Please don't lose this opportunity of shopping from them.