Modern Showrooms of C-Mart to be opened in the cities for marketing of the products manufactured in the villages of the state

Raipur: The state government has undertaken a new initiative to connect the finished products in villages with the market of cities for the rapid development of the rural economy.

For this, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel has instructed officials to ensure the establishment of C-Mart in cities for commercial marketing of products manufactured by women self-help groups, craftsmen, weavers, artisans, potters, or other traditional and cottage industries. This is being done to ensure fair prices for their products. The industries department has been asked to issue immediate directions in this regard.

With the establishment of C-Mart, all these categories of entrepreneurs will get maximum benefit. Chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, while directing the chief secretary, said that in the first phase, C-Marts are to be established in an area of 8,000 to 10,000 square feet in municipal corporations and 6,000 to 8,000 square feet in municipalities in all district headquarters.

Baghel has asked to start the work for the establishment of C-Mart immediately. Instructions have been given to use any government building available at present. He has said that in places where a suitable building is not available, land should be allotted to collector, industries department, or forest department as per requirement in a good location.

The chief minister gave the departmental amount of various schemes for the upgradation of buildings available for C-Mart or construction of the new building, CSIDC or the amount of Minor Forest Produce Association. He has said that if an additional amount is required for the construction and operation of C-Mart, it will be given from the industries department.

Chief minister has directed to make arrangements for the marketing of these items like the products of ‘Chhattisgarh Herbals’ by the Minor Forest Produce Association. Along with this, he has asked the district collectors to coordinate with the managing director, minor forest produce association for the arrangements for processing, packaging, branding and marketing of all other traditional producers manufactured by women’s groups.