UP Links Rural Women to Markets Under Livelihood Mission

By: WE staff | Monday, 7 April 2025

• UP government empowering rural women through State Rural Livelihood Mission
• CM Yogi Adityanath's support propelling the initiative
• SHG women engaged in food processing, branding, and marketing

The state government of Uttar Pradesh is seeking to empower rural women and render them self-reliant by directly linking them with markets via the State Rural Livelihood Mission, a government official said. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is providing support as women from self-help groups are being employed in food processing, branding, and direct sales, generating higher income and more economic independence.

The Uttar Pradesh state government is empowering rural women and making them self-reliant by directly connecting them with the markets under Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission (UPSRLM), a government official has said. On the direction of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, women belonging to self-help groups (SHG) are gaining employment in food processing, branding, and direct sales, which is enhancing their earnings and economic independence.

520 SHGs are already in operation in Varanasi, Sultanpur, and Aligarh, increasing the income of rural women. Another new centre is also going to be started in Banda. "This campaign has created a new model of economic empowerment by connecting the woman directly with the market," the spokesman stated.

By engaging women in the marketing, processing, and sale of farm produce, the initiative has cut down on middlemen dependency—offering reasonable prices and increased incomes to women. Altogether, the centres have brought in ₹34.58 lakh in revenue during the last eight months, of which ₹27.32 lakh has been credited directly into SHGs. With increasing demand for items such as spices and pulses, women's income increases proportionally.

Through the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative, UPSRLM aims to increase the annual income of 15 lakh rural families to over ₹1 lakh by offering training, financial assistance, and market access to women.