By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 26 Mar: In Vikasnagar block, the Swabhiman Cluster Level Federation (CLF), formed under the Uttarakhand State Rural Livelihood Mission and supported by the Gramotthan (Rural Enterprise Acceleration Project – REAP), has achieved remarkable success. Women from this federation have established a bakery unit that is setting new benchmarks in rural entrepreneurship and empowerment.
Established in July 2024 with financial and technical support from REAP, the bakery unit has showcased extraordinary achievement by generating revenue of Rs 31 lakh within just 8–9 months. This milestone exemplifies self-reliance and women’s empowerment in rural areas.
The bakery produces a range of wholesome and nutritious items, including cakes, pastries, bread, rusks, biscuits, and millet-based products such as millet cakes, bread, and cookies. These products, crafted with local resources like mandua, jhangora, jowar, bajra, and maize, have quickly gained popularity in local markets for their quality and taste.
The unit’s excellence has also caught the attention of “House of Himalayas”, a local brand that promotes Uttarakhand’s products globally. Through this collaboration, Swabhiman CLF’s bakery unit secured a significant order worth Rs 10.87 lakh, further motivating the women behind the bakery. The introduction of millet-based bakery items not only aims to promote millet farming but also provides consumers with organic, nutritious products while benefiting local farmers with nearby market opportunities.
This unit has directly benefited the 662 women associated with Swabhiman CLF and indirectly supported local farmers, showcasing a model of inclusive and sustainable development. In addition to this success, REAP’s initiatives in Dehradun have empowered CLFs across six blocks, achieving a total turnover of over ₹3 crore for the financial year 2024–2025.
REAP Dehradun has played a pivotal role in training and supporting women in developing millet-based products, thereby enhancing economic self-sufficiency in rural areas.
Chief Development Officer, Abhinav Shah, added, “The bakery unit established with REAP’s support has given our district’s women a new direction. We hope this initiative continues to play a vital role in women empowerment.”
District Project Manager for REAP, Kailash Chandra Bhatt, remarked, “Our goal is not just to promote rural enterprises but to economically empower women. We believe this initiative will help women achieve self-reliance.”
The CLF team and REAP teams congratulated the women for their hard work and dedication. This achievement is a significant step towards rural women’s economic empowerment in Uttarakhand.
