Ministry of Rural Development Showcases Women-Led Rural Enterprises at the BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting

📌 Summary:

• MoRD, through DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission), is showcasing women-led SHG rural enterprises at the Side Event Exhibition of the BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting, Kochi (8–9 July 2026)
• Pavilion comprises 21 State/UT stalls plus the National Saras Aajeevika Gallery; delegates from Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Indonesia visited
• Saras Shakti Collection: premium gifting initiative under DAY-NRLM curating SHG handcrafted products into branded institutional gift collections for market access
• Exhibits include Madhubani paintings, Dokra & Bell Metal craft, Pen Kalamkari, Phulkari, Toda embroidery, Kantha, Kutchi crafts, Channapatna toys, Aipan art
• Over 10 crore women are associated with SHGs under DAY-NRLM — demonstrating collective institutions' role in rural livelihoods and economic empowerment

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 — SHGs as instruments of women's economic empowerment and poverty alleviation; GS3 — rural livelihoods, market linkages for rural enterprises

📝 Prelims Facts:

• DAY-NRLM: MoRD's flagship rural livelihoods mission; 10+ crore women in SHGs
• Saras Aajeevika: SHG product marketing platform; Saras Shakti Collection = premium gifting line
• GI-tagged/traditional crafts displayed: Madhubani, Dokra, Kalamkari, Phulkari, Channapatna toys, Aipan

🔑 Key Term: DAY-NRLM — Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission: mobilises rural poor women into SHGs and federations for financial inclusion and diversified livelihoods