Solapur at Gram Vikas Bhavan, Kharghar....

Solapur at Gram Vikas Bhavan, Kharghar....

Solapuri chaadars, cotton bed sheets are the first things which come to our mind when we talk about Solapur. Yet there is more to it. This was what I discovered when I started working as the CEO of MSRLM. The women there had been focussing on various enterprises thanks to the training and capacity building activities undertaken through MSRLM.
Solapur had been chosen as an intensive district for implementation of NRLM and has been receiving support from the World Bank since 2013-14. It therefore has a dedicated team for the implementation of the programme. The strategy adopted by the mission has led to creation of 18424 self help groups of women till date. Almost 2 lakh households are part of these SHGs.
Sustainable livelihoods is the point of focus under the mission emphasising on farm and non-farm livelihoods.
There certainly has been a growth in agricultural, allied and non-farm activities. In normal parlance , it is the men who are generally recognised as farmers. The greatest contribution of the programme is the creation of over 40,000 women farmers.
The SVEP, Start up Village Enterprises programme the support of the Swayam Shikshan Prayog in the two blocks of Mohol and Baarshi has generated over 4000 non- farm livelihoods. These include farm products, processed foods, handicrafts and textiles. The emphasis throughout has been on indigenous, handmade and hand woven products. There are a whole range of products which would be certainly a part of a wish list of many people in Mumbai. Almost 20 SHGs from Solapur are now showcasing their products at Gram Vikas Bhavan, Kharghar.
For those who love spices there is a variety of spices like chilli powder, kaalaa masala, different types of mouthwatering chutneys made from ground nuts, tamarind etc. The organic food lovers can get organic jaggery and rice. Women will also be interested in purchasing the rice flour, thaali peeth flour, ragi flour. Fryums of potato, paapads of jowar, wheat, rice are also available. Lemon pickle and tamarind chutney would add a zing to the your lives.
Of course my personal favourite is the aloe vera gel made by the name Swaroopa which not only heals the wounds but also cools the skin.
The connoisseurs of art can choose to purchase beautiful paintings and artefacts. These include wooden bullock carts, bags, purses and wooden rolling board and pins to make chapatis.
Ghongdis, hand woven blankets made from sheep wool, the indigenous health product made from sheep wool by the aboriginal hangars are also in display. They keep you cold in summer and warm in winters and even drive out your aches and pains.
A visit to the Gram Vikas Bhavan in the next 10 days will make you a proud owner of one of these products. The food products will help you rustle tasty dishes in your kitchen and pep up your palate.
You don't even have to carry bags as home made "pishwees', cloth bags are also being sold. So just carry your money and exchange them for goods and smiles which will adorn your faces and also the faces of our SHG women.....
The Mahalakshmi Saras Mart at Gram Vikas Bhavan....be there to purchase products of Solapur this time....