Running a canteen at Thunag Mini Secretariat, she earns Rs 15,000 a month
A total of 63,968 women are associated with 8,274 self-help groups in Mandi district
Rural women in Himachal Pradesh are increasingly embracing self-employment through initiatives aimed at empowering women and strengthening their economic independence under the Sukhu government. Aarti Kumari, a resident of Uridhar Gram Panchayat in the Thunag area of Mandi district, is one such example. With the support of a self-help group (SHG), she is contributing to her family’s income by running a canteen.
Aarti is associated with the Saraswati Self-Help Group, through which she received the opportunity to operate a canteen at the Thunag Mini Secretariat. Since 2024, she has been running the canteen alongside another woman. The initiative has provided both women with a source of employment and a means of livelihood.
According to Aarti, she earns around Rs 15,000 per month from the canteen, with a daily income of approximately Rs 1,000. The earnings help her meet household expenses and support her children’s education. By choosing self-employment, she has been able to share her family’s financial responsibilities while moving towards greater economic independence.
Aarti said she received a loan of Rs 2 lakh under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) at an interest rate of 4 per cent. In addition, her self-help group received a start-up grant of Rs 15,000 from the Central Government and Rs 25,000 from the state government. This financial assistance has helped the group strengthen its activities and create opportunities for women to pursue self-employment.
Expressing her gratitude to the state government, particularly Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Aarti said that self-help groups were opening new avenues of employment for rural women. These opportunities, she added, were enabling women to earn their own incomes and improve the financial well-being of their families.
8,274 Self-Help Groups Formed in Mandi District
Deputy Commissioner Apurva Devgan said that 8,274 self-help groups have been formed across the 14 development blocks of Mandi district, with 63,968 women associated with them. The district also has 727 village organisations and 48 cluster-level federations. Of these, 7,744 self-help groups and 662 village organisations have been mapped.
He said self-help groups were playing a significant role in empowering rural women by providing opportunities for self-employment, promoting collective efforts and strengthening their economic status. Through these groups, women are exploring new livelihood opportunities, becoming more financially independent and contributing to the economic stability of their families.
Aarti’s journey reflects how self-help groups can help rural women turn opportunities into sustainable livelihoods, strengthening not only their own financial independence but also the economic security of their families.
