Chandigarh, Oct 2 — The Punjab government on Thursday rolled out a new initiative intended at empowering rural women and showcasing their skills through the launch of “Pehel Mart” at the Punjab Civil Secretariat. The project, steered by the Punjab State Rural Livelihoods Mission (PSRLM), was inaugurated by Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Tarunpreet Singh Sond.
The mart will serve as a direct link between women entrepreneurs from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and customers, offering traditional products such as Phulkari embroidery, Punjabi juttis, handmade suits, honey, pickles, squashes, oils, spices, papad, soaps, preserves, and candles. Officials said the initiative is expected to provide both economic gains and wider recognition for the skills of rural women.
“This mart is proof of the government’s serious commitment to rural development and women’s empowerment,” Sond said at the inauguration. “It will inspire thousands of rural women to stand on their own feet and provide new direction to their families and society.”
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, under whose leadership the initiative has been launched, has positioned the scheme as part of a broader effort to ensure inclusive development across Punjab. Senior officials, including Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha and Administrative Secretary Ajit Balaji Joshi, attended the launch and noted that the mart will bring the labor and art of village women into direct contact with urban markets.
According to the government, Pehel Mart is intended to be more than just a sales outlet. It is being projected as a platform to celebrate Punjab’s cultural heritage while giving rural women an opportunity to turn their creativity into sustainable livelihoods.
Officials stated that the project will play a role in generating economic progress, strengthening self-reliance, and bringing social change to rural communities. By enabling market access, it is also expected to secure long-term livelihoods for women artisans.
The initiative, the government noted, reflects its determination to provide a self-sufficient and dignified future for rural families. “Through this mart, the work of rural women will directly reach the cities, providing them better markets and recognition,” one official said.
With Pehel Mart, the state government has sought to position women’s empowerment as a driver of both economic and social development, projecting it as a model for sustainable growth in the state.
