Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Introduces Him-Era Portal to Showcase Crafts by 350,000 Rural Women
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Shimla, Jan 3 (NationPress) In a significant move to uplift rural women, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu launched an e-commerce platform named Him-Era aimed at showcasing products created by more than 350,000 rural women linked to 44,000 Self-Help Groups (SHGs). The website, himira.co.in, serves as a global marketplace for SHG products, enabling rural artisans and entrepreneurs to expand their market presence and enhance their income.
During the event, the Chief Minister announced the establishment of the Himachal Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission (HPSRLM), which operates under the Rural Development Department, as a crucial step towards empowering rural women.
He also launched seven specially designed food vans to create new revenue streams for SHG women. A booklet featuring inspiring success stories of women who gained financial independence through the HPSRLM was released during the occasion.
Sukhu characterized Him-Era as a beacon of transformation and promised further developments for the initiative. He urged SHGs to focus on quality to fully leverage the benefits, mentioning the state government’s plan to establish dedicated shops within government premises to display and sell Him-Era products.
The Chief Minister emphasized the government’s dedication to policies that reflect the state’s cultural and environmental values, highlighting rural economic advancement and self-employment.
Significant steps have been taken to empower women, including reserving 30 percent of police constable positions for women; increasing the minimum legal marriage age for girls from 18 to 21; providing loans to women to improve financial access in rural areas; and involving women and youth groups in forest conservation efforts with financial incentives.
Sukhu criticized the former BJP administration for distributing Rs 5,000 crore in what he described as “electoral freebies,” even to wealthy individuals, which he claimed burdened the economy. In contrast, the current government focuses on targeted assistance, such as 300 units of free electricity for economically disadvantaged households and financial support for housing construction.
He urged wealthy families to voluntarily forgo subsidies, mentioning his own decision to relinquish his electricity subsidy.
“I am presenting Him-Era products as gifts to Union Ministers and other notable figures,” Sukhu remarked, reinforcing the state’s commitment to fostering rural women’s entrepreneurship and elevating their talents to a broader audience.
