Aarti Kumari: From a Canteen to Self-Reliance
A government push to help rural women stand on their own feet is quietly changing lives in Himachal Pradesh. In Mandi district, Aarti Kumari is one such woman. With support from her Self-Help Group, she is running a canteen and helping meet her family’s financial needs.
Aarti Kumari belongs to the Saraswati Self-Help Group in Gram Panchayat Uridhar, Thunag area. Through the group, she got the chance to run a canteen at the Thunag Mini Secretariat. Since 2024, she has been running it along with another woman. The initiative has given both women work and a steady income.
Aarti says the canteen earns her about ₹15,000 a month. With that money, she manages household expenses and also helps meet her children’s education needs. Being self-employed has made it easier for her to share the family’s financial responsibilities and has set her on the path to self-reliance.
She also received a loan of ₹2 lakh under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) at a 4% interest rate. In addition, the Self-Help Group got startup support of ₹15,000 from the Central Government and ₹25,000 from the State Government. This financial help is enabling the group to expand its activities and bring more women into self-employment.
Aarti thanked the State Government, and especially Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, for creating self-employment opportunities for women. She said Self-Help Groups are giving women a way to earn a livelihood and, at the same time, help strengthen their families’ financial position.
8,274 Self-Help Groups in Mandi district
Deputy Commissioner Apoorva Devgan said 8,274 Self-Help Groups have been formed across 14 development blocks of Mandi district, with 63,968 women associated with them. The district also has 727 Village Organizations and 48 Cluster Level Federations. Mapping has been completed for 7,744 Self-Help Groups and 662 Village Organizations.
He said Self-Help Groups are playing an important role in making rural women self-reliant, providing self-employment opportunities and strengthening their economic condition. Through these groups, women are developing new livelihood options by working together and contributing to their families’ economic security.