Bihar’s rural development department has directed officials to expedite construction of an emporium at Bodh Gaya and prepare plans for similar facilities at other major tourist destinations, in a move aimed at giving women linked to Jeevika self-help groups wider access to domestic and international buyers.
Rural development minister Shravan Kumar issued the direction while reviewing departmental schemes at the Old Secretariat on Monday. The proposed emporiums will showcase local handicrafts, traditional artworks and other rural products made by women associated with Jeevika, Bihar’s self-help group network.
According to the department, the facilities are intended to connect rural producers with tourism-led demand. Bodh Gaya attracts domestic and foreign visitors, and the proposed emporium would provide a permanent venue for displaying and selling products made by women entrepreneurs. The minister also asked officials to prepare plans for similar facilities at other important tourist destinations in the state.
The review meeting covered several rural development and livelihood programmes, including rural housing schemes, the VB-G RAM G scheme, the Lohiya Swachh Bihar Abhiyan and the Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali campaign. Kumar directed officials to verify the survey list prepared under the Awaas Plus 2.0 initiative of the Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Gramin and add families that are eligible but were left out.
The department was also asked to expand goat-rearing activities and establish Sudha milk outlets at the block level. These outlets are to be operated by Jeevika women, extending the self-help group network into local retail and dairy sales.
Marketing infrastructure formed a significant part of the review. Kumar asked officials to coordinate with Nabard to develop rural haats and strengthen market linkages for rural products. The department is also working to promote the sale of Jeevika products in urban areas, alongside the proposed tourist emporiums.
Officials were directed to expedite site selection for Didi Kitchens and accelerate construction of anganwadi centres. The minister also instructed the department to ensure timely payment of wages to workers engaged under various schemes. A standard operating procedure is being prepared to clear pending works under MGNREGA, officials said.
The department’s plans combine production support with physical points of sale. Rural haats, block-level Sudha outlets, tourist emporiums and urban sales channels are intended to give Jeevika members more avenues to market products beyond their villages. The meeting, however, did not specify the construction timeline, locations of the proposed additional emporiums or the investment required for the Bodh Gaya facility.
The Saras fair will be held at Gandhi Maidan from December 12 to 28, with more than 800 stalls, Kumar announced. The fair is expected to provide another sales platform for rural products and women-led enterprises.
Rural development department additional chief secretary H R Srinivas, Nabard chief general manager Gautam Kumar Singh and other senior officials attended the review meeting. The immediate next steps are to expedite construction of the Bodh Gaya emporium, identify sites for similar facilities and prepare the operating plans for the related livelihood and marketing initiatives.
