Sewa unveils rural marketing network of women

Voluntary organisation Self Employed Womens Organisation (Sewa) has set up a rural marketing network called Rudi Bazaar which will be managed by its rural women members.

To begin with, 25 commonly used products have been launched.

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) chairperson Ranjana Kumar formally launched the pilot project in Sabarkantha district on Wednesday.

All products will be sold under the brand name `Rudi' which will be made, packed and sold by women members of Sewa. Kumar said while every woman involved in the project earns around Rs 1,000 a month, small and marginal farmers will also gain as they sell their produce to these women instead of shroffs or middlemen.

Rudi Bazaar has been established by Sewa Gram Mahila Haat (SGMH), the agriculture marketing arm of Sewa that handles entrepreneurship activities of the members.

The produce (mainly agri-based products) of over 4,000 self-help groups comprising over 3.50 lakh women of 14 districts of Gujarat is procured, graded, sorted, cleaned and packed which will by sold though the network.

Hindustan Lever Ltd (HLL) and Grassroots Trading Network have assisted SGMH in providing the necessary technical expertise and capability in setting up the network.

SGMH will also consider marketing the produce to HLL.

Sheela Sabu, chief co-ordinator of SGHM said: "Only about 40 per cent of the produce is being sold on a home-to-home basis. The remaining will be sold in the open market, where we will enjoy a price advantage. HLL may be a future buyer, as we have already been working with the company."

On Wednesday over half-a-dozen illiterate rural women who are part of the Rudi Bazaar project related their experiences on how the movement has helped them become self reliant.