Shimla: Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today laid the foundation stone of ‘Himachal Haat’ near the Lift in Shimla. To be constructed at a cost of Rs. 2 crore, the Himachal Haat will serve as a vibrant marketplace showcasing authentic Himachali products, while promoting the income, identity, and self-reliance of rural entrepreneurs, especially women Self Help Groups (SHGs), under the HIMIRA brand.
The Himachal Haat will be developed as a modern tensile structure comprising 24–25 shops, which will be allotted to SHGs from all 12 districts of Himachal Pradesh. It will bring together rural art and craft, handloom, handicraft, food processing products, and traditional Himachali cuisines under one roof, providing a permanent marketing and livelihood platform for SHG women.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the State Government is committed to strengthening the rural economy and empowering women SHGs by marketing their products under the HIMIRA brand. He added “The sale of these products has already generated an income of Rs. 25 lakh for SHGs, which is expected to grow substantially in the coming time.” The government has also provided food vans to SHGs, helping them earn around Rs. 50,000 per month, and plans are underway to distribute 60 additional food vans soon, he added.
Sukhu further said that the State Government is working to upgrade facilities for the people in Shimla, including the construction of a utility duct at a cost of Rs. 145 crore to shift power lines underground. Efforts are afoot to ensure round-the-clock water and power supply in the city. He said that work is in progress to convert the Circular Road into a double-lane route to ease traffic congestion. He reiterated that the government is taking concrete steps to make Himachal Pradesh self-reliant, and the results of these efforts will soon be visible to the public.
Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh said that the Himachal Haat reflects the Chief Minister’s vision of empowering rural women and promoting self-reliance. He stated that the Haat will be developed over an area of 4,000 square feet and is targeted for completion within eight months. He also expressed gratitude to Mayor Surender Chauhan and the Municipal Corporation Shimla for providing land for the project.
MLAs Harish Janartha and Suresh Kumar, Principal Advisor (Media) to the Chief Minister Naresh Chauhan, Mayor Surender Chauhan, Deputy Mayor Uma Kaushal, Chairman, Himachal Pradesh Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board Narender Kanwar, Secretary Rajesh Sharma, Director Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Raghav Sharma, CEO SRLM Shivam Pratap Singh along with other senior officers and distinguished guests were present on the occasion.
