Sashakt Behna Utsav: CM Dhami Backs Uttarakhand Women SHGs With Local Product Push

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami promotes women-led local products through the Sashakt Behna Utsav during Raksha Bandhan 2026, highlighting SHGs, rural livelihoods, market access and women’s economic empowerment.

Efforts made by the Uttarakhand government to link women’s self-help groups (SHGs) to better markets are drawing attention ahead of Raksha Bandhan. Inaugurating stalls launched through the Mukhyamantri Sashakt Behna Utsav Yojana in Dehradun on Monday, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited the stalls and interacted with women entrepreneurs.

Moreover, Dhami bought Rakhi products created by the women’s self-help groups, showcasing how much attention is being paid to earning income through the skills and handicrafts created by the women.

#WATCH | Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami inaugurated stalls set up by Self-Help Groups under the Mukhyamantri Sashakt Behna Utsav Yojana in Dehradun. After visiting the stalls, the Chief Minister encouraged the women associated with the groups.

CM Dhami also… pic.twitter.com/O8ELtyE3ZT

— ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) August 24, 2026

Mukhyamantri Sashakt Behna Utsav Yojana Creates Market Opportunities

The Chief Minister remarked that the Mukhyamantri Sashakt Behna Utsav Yojana has provided livelihood opportunities for many women. The programme is aimed at providing women of the SHGs with the platform through which they can showcase and sell their products directly to customers.

Rakhis, along with local food products, millet based products, woolen products, pickles, jams, etc., have been exhibited in the stalls. For the women living in the rural and mountainous regions, such platforms provide them with the opportunity to overcome one of the major hurdles they face.

Empowerment of Women of Uttarakhand through SHGs

Economic empowerment of women has emerged as one of the significant facets of the livelihoods mission of Uttarakhand. As per official estimates provided by the state government, over 68,000 self-help groups comprising more than five lakh women have been associated with the livelihoods mission.

More than 2,000 stalls were arranged during the Sashakt Behna Utsav event, with women's products making marketing value amounting to about Rs 5.5 crore, as per the government estimate.

The Lakhpati Didi scheme is yet another important constituent of the above-mentioned strategy of the state government with the government claiming that over 1.65 lakh women have attained the status. Attempts are being made to reach out to wider markets with the help of local products under the House of Himalayas brand.

Raksha Bandhan 2026: Dhami Joins Women For Celebration

On the previous day, Dhami had participated in two Raksha Bandhan events held in Dehradun with women tying Rakhis on his wrist and offering him best wishes. The Chief Minister further highlighted that Raksha Bandhan was a festival which symbolizes love, trust, dedication and responsibility.

Free Travel on Roadways by Women

For Raksha Bandhan, Dhami declared free travel for women on Uttarakhand Roadways buses on August 28 and 29, 2026. The facility will provide an easy way for the women to reach their parents' place and meet their relatives.

In this way, these efforts show the government’s efforts in the area of women’s entrepreneurship, local products, rural employment and economic self-reliance.