Karnataka to launch e-commerce portal to promote products made by rural women

Karnataka minister Sharan Patil commended the women self-help groups for their entrepreneurial spirit and their contribution to the rural economy.

The Karnataka government will soon launch an e-commerce portal to sell products made by rural women entrepreneurs. “Sanjeevini, an e-selling portal to market these products, will be launched soon,” said Karnataka Minister for Skill Development, Livelihood, and Medical Education Sharan Prakash Patil on August 29.

He also commended the women self-help groups (SHGs) for their entrepreneurial spirit and their contribution to the rural economy.

Patil was speaking at a two-day national conclave on rural women entrepreneurship incubation, held in Bengaluru. He said that the state government’s Swavalambane scheme—an initiative by the Livelihood Mission Department aimed at promoting entrepreneurship among rural women through SHGs—will be expanded across the state.

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"In response to overwhelming demand, with over 40,000 applicants, the state government will soon extend the Swavalambane scheme to the district level, aiming to identify and support more women micro-entrepreneurs at the grassroots level," said Patil.

Launched on October 11, 2023, in collaboration with IIM Bangalore, the Swavalambane Incubation Program was designed to support 150 SHG women entrepreneurs across the state.

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The programme has provided financial assistance through grants and soft loans, enabling these women to scale their businesses and achieve significant success. It also offers guidance in areas such as bookkeeping, financial management, business strategy, branding, marketing, packaging, and establishing a presence on social media, thereby expanding their market reach.

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