Shimla to Set Up Highway Product Sale Huts for SHGs
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SHIMLA, Aug. 5: Shimla district administration will establish cluster-level pre-fabricated Product Sale Huts along National Highways to provide Self-Help Groups (SHGs) with permanent market access and promote the district’s traditional products, Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a review meeting of the Rural Development Department at Bachat Bhawan, Kashyap said the initiative is aimed at enhancing the incomes of SHGs, creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for rural women and strengthening the marketing network for local agricultural and handicraft products.
The proposed outlets will enable each cluster to market its signature products at strategically located highway points, making them easily accessible to tourists and commuters.
Products to be sold through the outlets will include fresh apples, value-added apple products such as jams, juices, squash and vinegar, rajma, red rice, desi ghee, honey, pickles, chutneys, rhododendron squash, mushroom products, walnuts, plums, apricots, local pulses, woollen shawls, caps, mufflers, handcrafted woollen garments, bamboo and wooden handicrafts, and other traditional Himachali products.
Each Product Sale Hut will also be supported by a food van serving local cuisine. The administration said all food outlets will comply with Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulations to ensure food quality and consumer safety.
Kashyap said the initiative forms part of the district administration’s efforts to develop “Brand Shimla” by creating wider market opportunities for indigenous products while preserving the district’s cultural and traditional heritage.
Reviewing the implementation of development programmes, the Deputy Commissioner directed officials to expedite pending projects, resolve implementation bottlenecks, conduct regular monitoring and ensure timely submission of Utilization Certificates (UCs) for completed works.
The meeting was informed that 520 houses were sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana during the previous financial year. Of the 486 verified beneficiaries, 383 have received the first instalment, while 103 have been released the second instalment.
Officials also reported that 254 development schemes remain pending across various development blocks, while Utilization Certificates for 179 completed projects are yet to be submitted.
Under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), 351 Lok Sabha projects involving an expenditure of ₹5.73 crore remain incomplete. Additionally, 123 Rajya Sabha MPLADS projects, involving about ₹3.31 crore, are pending completion.
The administration also announced plans to construct public toilets along National Highways under the Swachh Bharat Mission (Gramin) to improve sanitation facilities for travellers and tourists.
On beneficiary verification, officials said e-KYC has been completed for 2,358 of the district’s 2,751 BPL families, while verification of the remaining families is in progress.
The district administration said the initiatives are intended to accelerate rural development, improve market linkages for local producers and ensure timely implementation of public welfare programmes.
Samagra Sikhsha
