Nashik Kumbh Mela To Boost Women's SHGs

Minister Girish Mahajan has announced that the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela in Nashik will create a large number of employment opportunities for women self-help groups.

The announcement was made at the conclusion of the Ranbhajya Mahotsav and Akanksha Haat-2026 festival, which was jointly organised by Zilla Parishad Nashik, District Rural Development Agency, Akankshith Taluka Programme, and Maharashtra State Rural Livelihood Upliftment Mission.

The festival aimed to provide a market for products made by women self-help groups in rural and tribal areas, as well as promote traditional wild vegetables, local food culture, and nutritious food.

It received a spontaneous response from citizens, with a total of ₹10.11 lakh recorded in sales over three days.

Mahajan said that the Kumbh Mela will attract a large number of devotees from across the country, and this opportunity will be used to economically empower rural women.

He emphasized the need to provide more employment and business opportunities to women self-help groups, and encouraged women to come forward in production, sales, food, and various service sectors.

The Minister also highlighted the importance of initiatives like the Pink e-rickshaw, which is implemented through UMED, in promoting women's self-reliance.

During the festival, women's self-help groups exhibited and sold a range of products, including traditional wild vegetables, local food items, nutritious food, handicrafts, and block-printed bed sheets and kurtis.

The event was attended by Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Omkar Pawar, District Rural Development Agency Project Director Mahesh Patil, members of women's self-help groups, and citizens.

Mahajan's message of women's empowerment was evident when he entered the venue in a Pink e-rickshaw operated by rural women self-help groups under the UMED campaign.

The Simhastha Kumbh Mela is expected to have a significant impact on the rural economy, and the plans announced by Minister Mahajan are likely to boost the economic prospects of women self-help groups in the region.

The festival has set an example for promoting women's empowerment and self-reliance, and it is hoped that similar initiatives will be replicated in other parts of the country.

In conclusion, the Nashik Kumbh Mela is not only a significant cultural event but also an opportunity for economic empowerment of rural women.

The plans announced by Minister Mahajan are a step in the right direction, and it is expected that they will have a positive impact on the lives of women self-help groups in the region.