300 ‘She-Marts’ to Open Across Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka: Amit Shah
Amit Shah launches She-Mart initiative in Kollam to empower women entrepreneurs across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
In a major move to bolster women-led development, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah has announced the launch of over 300 She-Mart outlets across South India. The initiative, aimed at bridging the gap between women entrepreneurs and the commercial market, will expand across the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
Speaking at an event in Kollam, Kerala, Shah highlighted that the She-Mart initiative is a key component of the 'Sahkar se Samriddhi' vision championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The mission seeks to transform rural women from mere credit seekers into successful enterprise owners.
Empowering Women Through Cooperatives
The She-Mart mission was originally announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the 2026-27 Union Budget. By establishing a network of 300 outlets, the government aims to provide women with a direct platform to engage in trade and commerce, fostering economic independence through the cooperative movement.
During the launch, several other welfare measures were introduced to support the rural economy:
- Affordable Essentials: The commencement of mobile vans operated by NCCF and NAFED to provide onions, 'Bharat Atta', and 'Bharat Rice' at subsidized rates.
- Education Support: The distribution of scholarship cheques to the daughters of farming families under the NAFED Kalyan Scholarship Scheme.
Strengthening Kerala's Cooperative Infrastructure
Amit Shah lauded Kerala's robust cooperative framework, noting that the state operates more than 23,000 well-functioning cooperatives. He extended an invitation to Kerala's Cooperation Minister to visit Delhi to explore how the state can maximize the benefits of various Government of India schemes.
The Union Minister further emphasized that the central government is prepared to offer specialized guidance and assistance to the state in critical sectors such as:
- Dairy production
- Seed distribution
- Organic agriculture
The launch in Kollam marks a significant step in the national effort to integrate women into the mainstream economy through organized cooperative structures, ensuring that the benefits of growth reach the grassroots level.