Vijayawada: President Droupadi Murmu has said self-help groups (SHGs) and SARAS Melas can play a lead role in taking the benefits of development to every village and household, stressing that rural women must emerge as wealth creators and drivers of inclusive growth.

Addressing the National SARAS Mela, organised by the Union ministry of rural development and the state government here on Thursday, she said women's empowerment should be measured by the extent to which rural women gained control over their income and assets.

The President visited the stalls at the exhibition and interacted with Lakhpati Didis and women entrepreneurs drawn from across the country.

She congratulated them on their determination and hard work, and appreciated the Centre and the state government for organising the event.

Highlighting the growing contributions of women to agriculture and the rural economy, Murmu said self-help groups had opened new avenues for their financial, technical and social empowerment.

The growing number of women entrepreneurs and their increasing participation in economic decision-making were essential for equitable and inclusive development.

Over the past 12 years, the number of women associated with SHGs had crossed 10 crore, with their participation extending to more than 90 lakh groups.

These collectives had strengthened family incomes, savings and opportunities for collective enterprise, she said.

The President noted that SHGs were expanding their activities beyond agriculture, animal husbandry and micro-enterprises to healthcare, nutrition, education and local governance.

They were also creating livelihood opportunities for landless women by mobilising local resources.

Women-led institutions, she said, has become central to rural livelihoods and social transformation by reducing the role of intermediaries and promoting sustainable economic activities.

More than five crore rural women farmers had been connected through the rural livelihoods mission, while lakhs of non-farm enterprises had received support.

The Centre's Lakhpati Didi initiative had given fresh momentum to rural women's empowerment.

Their growing participation in modern sectors such as digital services and renewable energy was opening up new avenues for skill development, she noted.

However, Murmu said more needed to be done to strengthen women's control over income and property, establish community-based support systems to share domestic care responsibilities and encourage their participation in climate-resilient enterprises.

Describing SARAS Melas as thriving rural marketplaces, she said they had strengthened direct links between women entrepreneurs and consumers, including in urban markets.

The fairs also helped women improve their skills in branding, packaging, networking and innovation through training and exposure to new marketing techniques.

The President highlighted Andhra Pradesh's contributions to India's cultural heritage, citing the Tirumala temple, the Amaravati civilisation and its renowned sculptural traditions.

She said the SARAS Mela was helping local crafts, including Kalamkari, Kondapalli wooden toys and Uppada Jamdani sarees, reach wider urban markets and generate sustainable livelihood opportunities.

Around 1,500 women entrepreneurs from SHGs and Lakhpati Didis representing 34 states and Union territories are displaying their products at more than 650 stalls at the National SARAS Mela, which will remain open until October 31.

The President said these initiatives would be crucial to achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047 by ensuring that development reached every village and household.

President Droupadi Murmu had lunch with members of self-help groups at the Saras Mela.


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