Himachal Haat to showcase authentic Himachali products, empower rural women SHGs

Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu laid the foundation stone for ‘Himachal Haat’ near the Lift in Shimla on Wednesday.

To be constructed at a cost of Rs. 2 crore, the Himachal Haat will serve as a vibrant marketplace to showcase authentic Himachali products while promoting the income, identity, and self-reliance of rural entrepreneurs, especially women Self Help Groups (SHGs), under the HIMIRA brand. It will be developed as a modern tensile structure housing 24–25 shops, to be allotted to SHGs from all 12 districts of the state.

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The haat will bring together rural art and craft, handloom, handicraft, food processing products, and traditional Himachali cuisines under one roof—providing a permanent marketing and livelihood platform for SHG women.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said the state government is committed to strengthening the rural economy and empowering women SHGs by marketing their products under the HIMIRA brand. “The sale of these products has already generated an income of Rs. 25 lakh for SHGs, which is expected to grow substantially in the coming years,” he said.

He added that his government has provided food vans to SHGs, helping them earn around Rs. 50,000 per month, and plans are underway to distribute 60 additional food vans soon.

Highlighting the ongoing development initiatives in Shimla, Sukhu said the government is working to upgrade public facilities, including the construction of a Rs. 145-crore utility duct to shift power lines underground. Efforts are also being made to ensure round-the-clock water and power supply in the city. He said that work is underway to convert the Circular Road into a double-lane route to ease traffic congestion.

The chief minister reiterated that the government is taking concrete steps to make Himachal Pradesh self-reliant and that the results of these initiatives will soon be visible to the people.

Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh said that the Himachal Haat reflects the Chief Minister’s vision of empowering rural women and promoting self-reliance.

He informed that the Haat will be developed over an area of 4,000 square feet and is targeted for completion within eight months.

Sukhu also expressed gratitude to Mayor Surender Chauhan and the Municipal Corporation Shimla for providing land for the project.