The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and Reliance Retail’s JioMart recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in a ground-breaking step towards elevating rural craftsmen. In the end, this strategic alliance seeks to empower SHG artisans in rural India by expanding the reach of SHGs affiliated with the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
Charanjit Singh, Additional Secretary, Rural Livelihoods, MoRD, made the official announcement of the partnership and expressed enthusiasm for the project’s transformative potential. He emphasized that the partnership would make it easier for SHGs to be onboarded as JioMart merchants, which would greatly increase the number of people who can access MoRD’s SARAS collection.
JioMart’s services for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) include product platform sales as well as account setup and management assistance. Participation in training sessions and workshops led by MoRD to acquaint vendors with the online selling process is another aspect of the relationship. After debut, JioMart pledged to provide ongoing training and support to guarantee the stability and growth of SHG enterprises on the platform.
With this strategic partnership, SHGs will be able to sell a wide variety of handlooms, handicrafts, pantry items, home décor, and cosmetics on JioMart under the MoRD’s SARAS collection brand. By promoting indigenous goods and expanding the market for rural craftsmen, the action is expected to benefit all parties involved.
The world is my oyster.
Through this agreement, SHGs will have greater market visibility and exposure, giving them the chance to present their distinctive products to JioMart’s large national customer base. Singh stressed that all SHG vendors connected to DAY-NRLM would get helpful support and direction to help them grow their enterprises in the digital stratosphere after they were onboarded.
Singh further emphasized the importance of this partnership in furthering the Ministry’s goal of boosting SHG members’ incomes in a sustainable manner. The collaboration is a major step in accomplishing DAY-NRLM’s overarching objective of improving the economic well-being of SHG craftsmen. It also fits in perfectly with the organization’s larger initiatives.
The Ministry of Rural Development’s Joint Secretary, Swati Sharma, reaffirmed the ministry’s dedication to assisting SHGs in generating income. She was upbeat about the JioMart cooperation and anticipated that it will help SHGs by opening up new revenue streams.
The MoU’s main goals were outlined by Raghvendra Pratap Singh, Director, MoRD’s Rural Livelihoods, who emphasized that SHG strength was now acknowledged on a national level. He thought that this partnership would strengthen a number of marketing campaigns, such as the SARAS line.
‘Make in India’
‘Make in India’ is a government program, and Reliance Retail Limited’s President and Chief of Public Policy and Regulatory, Ravi Prakash Gandhi, highlighted this connection when he stated his delight for the relationship. He said that this partnership was the first in a line of successful alliances, demonstrating Reliance Retail’s dedication to revolutionizing the digital retail landscape and enabling regional small businesses and artisans throughout India.
A major effort by the Indian government to reduce poverty, the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) is one of the biggest programs in the world aimed at enhancing the lives of rural impoverished people. To accomplish its goals, the program focuses on social development, financial inclusion, sustainable livelihoods, and social mobilization.
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2023, Reliance Retail Limited generated a net profit of Rs 9,181 crore ($1.1 billion) and a consolidated turnover of Rs 260,364 crore ($31.7 billion) through its vast network of stores and digital commerce platforms. These are outstanding financial figures.
Launched in 2020, JioMart is the e-tail division of Reliance Retail with the goal of empowering Indian small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and fostering a stronger SMB community. JioMart is poised to transform the digital commerce landscape in India by offering a plethora of products, a user-friendly interface, expedited delivery, and alluring promotions. It will serve as a platform for millions of shoppers and sellers. A big step has been taken in achieving the goal of empowering local craftspeople and improving rural livelihoods with this collaboration with MoRD.
