The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has taken a significant step towards enhancing the livelihoods of rural artisans by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Reliance Retail’s JioMart. This collaborative effort aims to amplify the outreach of products created by Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), fostering empowerment in rural communities.
Speaking on the occasion, Additional Secretary of Rural Livelihoods at the Ministry of Rural Development, Charanjit Singh, highlighted the strategic importance of this collaboration. The partnership will facilitate the onboarding of SHGs as sellers on the JioMart e-commerce platform, expanding the market reach of the products featured in the SARAS collection.
Singh emphasized that this initiative will enable SHGs to broaden their market presence, increase visibility, and offer their curated products to JioMart customers nationwide. As part of the partnership, SHG sellers associated with DAY-NRLM will receive benefits and guidance to enhance their online business presence.
The collaboration between DAY-NRLM and JioMart is expected to contribute to the mission’s goal of sustainable income enhancement for SHGs. The Ministry is dedicated to supporting the improvement of livelihood opportunities for SHGs, and this partnership with JioMart is a crucial step in that direction.
Swati Sharma, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Rural Development, expressed the Ministry’s commitment to supporting the livelihood opportunities of SHGs. She highlighted the potential of the partnership with JioMart to contribute significantly to this objective.
Raghvendra Pratap Singh, Director of Rural Livelihoods at the Ministry of Rural Development, provided an overview of the MoU’s key objectives. He emphasized the importance of recognizing and acknowledging the strength of SHGs, indicating that this partnership will further strengthen marketing initiatives like SARAS.
Dr. Ravi Prakash Gandhi, President and Chief of Public Policy and Regulatory at Reliance Retail Limited, commented on the association, stating that partnering with MoRD is the first step to many more fruitful collaborations in the future. He highlighted JioMart’s commitment to the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and its goal to transform the digital retail ecosystem in the country.
As part of the collaboration, JioMart will assist in setting up and supporting SHGs to navigate and operate their accounts on the marketplace. The platform will also participate in training and workshops facilitated by MoRD, providing guidance to sellers for a seamless selling experience on the portal.
This alliance will bring products from SHGs under MoRD’s SARAS collection brand onto JioMart, offering a diverse range of handlooms and handicrafts, from traditional textiles to pantry items, home décor, and beauty products.
