Shimla, Dec 26, 2025: The Himachal Pradesh government will set up a dedicated “Himachal Haat” in Shimla to provide market access to products made by women self-help groups (SHGs) under the state’s Him Ira brand, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said on Thursday.
The Haat, being constructed at a cost of Rs 2 crore near the lift area in Shimla, will house 25 shops showcasing products from women SHGs across all 12 districts of the state. Sukhu said the initiative is aimed at strengthening the rural economy and increasing incomes of women-led collectives.
“‘Himachal Haat’ will serve as a vibrant marketplace showcasing authentic Himachali products,” the chief minister said. “It will bring together handicrafts, handloom items, rural artefacts, food-processing products and traditional Himachali cuisine under one roof.”
Sukhu said women self-help groups are a key pillar of economic self-reliance and empowerment in the state. He added that the government is also providing food vans to SHGs, helping them earn about Rs 50,000 per month.
According to official figures shared by the chief minister, the state currently has 5,428 self-help groups, 1,257 village organisations and 189 cluster-level federations. Financial support has been extended through multiple schemes, including Rs 36 crore released as revolving funds to 14,410 SHGs, Rs 41 crore as community investment funds to 7,567 SHGs, and Rs 36 crore as risk mitigation funds to 7,187 families.
Highlighting the performance of the Him Ira initiative, Sukhu said 109 permanent Him Ira shops have recorded sales of Rs 34.95 crore, while 81 weekly Him Ira markets have generated business worth Rs 29.70 crore so far.
For the 2025–26 financial year, the state government has approved 10 blocks under the Livelihood Rural Express scheme, with a target of deploying 60 vehicles—six in each block—to further support rural livelihoods.
