SARAS Mela Boosts Market Access for Ladakh's Women SHGs

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Thursday, 17 September 2026

With a vision to provide women-led Self Help Groups (SHGs) in Ladakh a proper platform for showcasing, marketing and promoting their products, Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena launched the Ladakh Rural Livelihood Mission (LRLM)-SARAS Mela 2026 at Leh Main Market.

Not just a showcase and selling forum, the SARAS Mela gives rural women entrepreneurs and members of SHGs the opportunity to interact with consumers and buyers, other market players and even other SHGs across the country.

Key Highlights:

• SARAS Mela connects Ladakh’s women SHGs with new markets and buyers
• 16,000+ women and 2,310 SHGs are part of LRLM’s growing network
• ₹15 crore allocated to strengthen women’s livelihoods and enterprises

It is interesting to note that the LRLM mission in Ladakh has been widening its base over time with over 16,000 women, 2,310 SHGs, 248 Village Organisations and 18 Cluster Level Federations associated with LRLM. The increasing network of the mission reflects the increasing involvement of women of Ladakh in collective economic activities.

Under LRLM, around Rs 15 crore have been allocated through the Revolving Fund and Community Investment Fund. These funds are meant to augment the livelihood activities of women, develop their enterprise and allow the SHGs to invest in productive activities. The greater availability of financial resources at the community level would enable women to enhance their current activities as well as explore newer business avenues.

The Mela would help women entrepreneurs in Ladakh understand the changes in consumer preferences and market requirements while learning about product packaging, branding, use of technology, pricing and other aspects of growing their business. The forum would enable SHGs to enhance the commercial value and marketability of their products.

While addressing the gathering, the LG called the SARAS Mela as an opportunity that values efforts, innovations, skills and enterprising qualities of women of Ladakh. According to him, there is a need to provide SHG members support in transforming from livelihood activities to market-based enterprise activities. He also mentioned the need for increasing the visibility of the products of Ladakh and connecting them with the national and international markets.

He added that the growing involvement of women in agriculture, livestock, food processing, handicrafts, and other income-generating activities is helpful to enhance their household and rural economy. The LG pointed out that improved women’s participation economically had other implications for the rural economy of Ladakh. He added, "When our women go ahead, Ladakh will go ahead". The concentration on enterprises, market linkages, and financial resources is hoped to help women move from small livelihood projects to sustainable growing business ventures.

Apart from serving as a venue for products exhibition and marketing, the SARAS Mela is also an appreciation event of the enterprise and talents of Ladakhi women. As part of the visit, the LG visited stalls selling various products from Ladakh and spoke to artisans, women entrepreneurs, and SHG members. He also unveiled a fleet of vehicles provided by the AGEY (Ajeevika Grameen Express Yojana). The program would help increase connectivity for people living in rural areas and help the people access markets, services, and opportunities.