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Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai Hands Over Contracts to 10 Women’s SHGs in Raigarh for Ready-to-Eat Meal Production and Distribution
This initiative will boost both children’s nutrition and women’s economic empowerment: CM Vishnu Deo Sai
Raipur, July 10, 2025 – Taking a step forward in fulfilling another guarantee made by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Chhattisgarh Government has reinitiated the Ready-to-Eat (RTE) meal production work for women’s self-help groups (SHGs). The implementation began today from Raigarh district.
In a program held in Raigarh, Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai handed over contract letters to 10 women’s SHGs for the production and distribution of RTE meals. Finance Minister Shri O.P. Choudhary, Raigarh MP Shri Radheshyam Rathiya, Rajya Sabha MP Shri Devendra Pratap Singh, MLA Shri Purandar Mishra, Zila Panchayat President Smt. Shikha Ravindra Gabel, Mayor Shri Jivardhan Chauhan, and Zila Panchayat Member Smt. Sushma Khalkho were also present at the event.
CM Sai stated that the state government has decided to entrust the responsibility of preparing and distributing supplementary nutrition (RTE) for Anganwadi centers to women’s SHGs. Initially, this will be implemented as a pilot project in six districts. Raigarh is the first district where 10 SHGs have received official contracts.
He emphasized that the women in these groups will not only be providing nutritious meals to children at Anganwadi centers but also generating income for themselves, thereby achieving economic self-reliance. The initiative aims to empower women both economically and socially, while also improving the nutritional status of children across the state.
During his speech, CM Sai noted that most of Prime Minister Modi’s guarantees have already been implemented on the ground in the past one and a half years. These include the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, paddy procurement at ₹3100 per quintal, distribution of two years’ pending bonus, monthly assistance of ₹1000 under the Mahtari Vandan Yojana, increase in tendu leaf collection rates to ₹5500 per standard bag, and the revival of the Charan Paduka Yojana. Moreover, schemes like the Ram Lalla Darshan Yojana and Teerth Yatra Scheme are also offering citizens religious travel opportunities.
The CM also spoke about the launch of Atal Digital Seva Kendras to provide banking services directly in villages. So far, 1,460 such centers have been established across panchayats, benefiting thousands of women with easy and secure banking access. Plans are underway to extend this service to all remaining panchayats.
Finance Minister Shri O.P. Choudhary remarked that the government is continuously working to make women self-reliant. In line with the nationwide goal of creating 3 crore ‘Lakhpati Didis’, Chhattisgarh is progressing methodically. The RTE initiative, beginning in six districts, is a part of this vision. Raigarh is the first district where SHGs have received contract letters. He urged the groups to maintain high standards of quality and turn this initiative into a model for the rest of the state. The project will not only economically uplift women but also strengthen the state’s nutritional mission.
It is noteworthy that 10 women’s SHGs in Raigarh district have been selected for the RTE project and have received their contracts. These groups will receive capital subsidies under the PM Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme via the Department of Industries to set up RTE units. SHGs have been selected from areas under Raigarh Urban, Raigarh Rural, Pusaur, Kharsia, Gharghoda, Tamnar, Lailunga, Mukdega, Dharamjaigarh, and Kapu projects for supplying RTE meals to Anganwadi centers.
