The successful implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Industrial Park, a visionary scheme initiated by Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, has transformed the lives of people and empowered them financially.
RIPA (Rural Industrial Park Association) is playing a pivotal role in connecting individuals with employment opportunities, enabling them to pursue their aspirations.
In addition to producing high-quality goods at the local level, RIPA has ensured the availability of these products in the market, benefiting those associated with the organisation. The collective efforts have resulted in improved livelihoods and economic growth for the people involved with RIPA.
The implementation of RIPA's objectives and goals has commenced at the grassroots level in the Dantewada district. Initially, RIPA products were supplied to government offices and wholesalers based on demand. However, due to the increasing demand, RIPA has expanded its reach to local Haat-Bazars, ensuring accessibility for the general public.
A wide range of RIPA products, including paper cups, cow dung paint, tora oil, organic rice, millet, and jaggery chikki, can now be found at the Dantewada weekly marketplace, providing consumers with a diverse selection of sustainable and locally-made products.
Nitesh Kumar Dewangan, the District RIPA Nodal Officer of the National Rural Livelihood Mission, shared that there are currently 8 RIPA units operating in the district, engaging in a total of 25 activities. The focus is on expanding employment opportunities, with plans to provide jobs to at least 50 beneficiaries in each RIPA unit in the near future.
Currently, 94 women SHGs and 110 youths are already employed in the district's industrial park. Remarkably, the district's RIPA units have produced over 24 lakh materials, showcasing the significant impact and productivity of this initiative.
The materials produced by SHGs and youths in RIPA are gaining recognition as a 'trusted brand' due to their exceptional purity and quality. This development bodes well for the working women's groups who tirelessly produce these materials and make them available to consumers.
Women SHGs will soon reap the full benefits of their untiring hard work as they are manufacturing products and providing them to consumers through easily accessible markets like Haat-Bazaars.