Chhattisgarh Government Empowers Rural Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Opportunities, Realizing Mahatma Gandhi’s Vision of Gram Swaraj

Dispatch News.
Under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, the state government of Chhattisgarh is actively working towards realizing Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Gram Swaraj. The government has implemented various schemes that ensure fair prices for farmers’ crops while creating livelihood opportunities in rural areas through Gauthan and Rural Industrial Parks.

Rural entrepreneurship has received a boost with the introduction of livestock-based Rural Industrial Parks in villages. Currently, the state operates 300 such parks, which have played a crucial role in empowering women. Additionally, C-marts have been set up in the district and divisional headquarters to facilitate the sale of finished products from Gauthans, thereby providing a substantial market.

The Rural Industrial Parks have benefitted women’s groups and provided employment opportunities for the youth. While women’s groups engage in various activities such as vermicompost making, community farming, fish farming, poultry farming, and goat farming, the parks also offer workspace to aspiring young entrepreneurs who lack sufficient resources. The initial phase involves the establishment of two Rural Industrial Parks in seven development blocks of Raigarh district.

In these parks, a diverse range of activities takes place, including fabrication, sewing units, aluminium fabrication, mushroom production, oil and flour processing, mini rice milling, cow dung paint manufacturing, and the production of cow dung pots and lamps. Extensive training is provided to individuals associated with these initiatives, and loans are made available through various schemes. Many of these entrepreneurial activities are driven by local youth, contributing to the overall objective of promoting rural entrepreneurship and enhancing local livelihood opportunities.

C-Mart offers a platform for the sale of a wide array of products, including Sawai grass products from Dharamjaygarh, pottery from Lalunga, lac products from Gharghoda, as well as locally made home products such as pickles, papad, and badi. The establishment of C-Mart has created a thriving market for Gauthan products, with demand witnessed during festivals like Holi, where herbal gulal from Gauthan gained significant popularity.
The efforts of the Chhattisgarh state government, led by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, in realizing Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Gram Swaraj have resulted in tangible progress. By providing fair prices to farmers, generating livelihood opportunities, empowering women, and fostering rural entrepreneurship, the government is driving self-reliance and enabling increased local economic growth and development.