Radhika SHG’s group members earned Rs. 3.54 lakh from the sales of manufactured fly ash bricks
Raipur, 17 September 2023/ Chhattisgarh’s Gauthan, along with Mahatma Gandhi Rural Industrial Parks (RIPA), is catalysing rural development. RIPA has become a hub for business and industrial growth in rural regions, bolstering local employment, especially among entrepreneurs, youth, and women’s self-help groups (SHGs). As various industrial units thrive within RIPA, residents are witnessing an increase in income levels. One such success story is of Radhika Self-Help Group, which operates a fly ash brick manufacturing unit at RIPA Bariumrao of Gaurela-Pendra-Marwahi. Their efforts have resulted in sales worth Rs 3.54 lakh, illustrating the scheme’s positive impact on livelihoods.
Under the guidance of Collector Mrs. Priyanka Rishi Mahobia and Project Director Mr. Kaushal Prasad Tendulkar, RIPA centres in the district are achieving greater operational efficiency. District Mission NRLM Manager Mr. Durgashankar Soni reported that Mrs. Duvasa Puri, a group member, is skillfully operating a fly ash brick manufacturing machine. The women in the group are working in tandem with their male counterparts to produce fly-ash bricks. This dedicated group, including Tejkunwar, Rajkumari, Sunita, Gayatri, Kranti, and Monika, has successfully manufactured over 130,000 bricks, with sales totaling 118,000 bricks, amounting to an impressive Rs 3.54 lakh.
The state government, led by Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel, has launched the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Industrial Park Scheme (RIPA) on Gandhi Jayanti, October 2, 2022. In its first phase, the scheme aims to establish 300 rural industrial parks with a budget provision of Rs 600 crore, allocating Rs 2 crore for each RIPA development.
By linking Gauthans with RIPA, rural families are witnessing an increase in their income levels. This initiative is bolstering the economic strength of villagers by offering new income avenues. The promotion of entrepreneurship at the grassroots level is also generating significant local employment opportunities, reducing the need for daily wage labour migration. As a result, rural communities are experiencing positive economic transformation, aligning with the government’s vision for inclusive and sustainable rural development.
