DCM Sunetra Pawar Launches Mini Saras Savitri Jatra in Pune, Rs 40 Crore Loans Distributed to Self-Help Groups

Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 7th March 2026: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Pune District Guardian Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar on Saturday said that the ‘Savitrī Jatra’ initiative has evolved into a movement aimed at making women self-reliant, while highlighting the growing demand for products made by women’s self-help groups.

She was speaking at the inauguration of the district-level sales exhibition ‘Mini Saras Savitri Jatra’, organised by the Pune Zilla Parishad in association with the UMED–Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission at the College of Agriculture Ground in Sinchan Nagar. The event also included the distribution of divisional-level awards under the Yashwant Panchayat Raj Campaign and district-level awards under the Maha Awas Abhiyan.

Addressing the gathering, Pawar said the event draws inspiration from the legacy of social reformer Savitribai Phule and reflects her vision of empowering women through education and self-reliance. “Savitrī Jatra is not merely an exhibition. It has become a movement that encourages women to become self-reliant. The increasing demand for products made by women’s self-help groups at national and global levels is a matter of pride,” she said.

She extended greetings on the occasion of International Women’s Day and noted that the exhibition provides a platform for rural women to showcase their products, skills and entrepreneurial spirit. Around 150 women’s self-help groups are participating in the exhibition, displaying products that reflect rural art, traditions and culture.

“Every product displayed here represents the hard work, dreams and determination of women from rural areas. I appeal to the citizens of Pune to visit the exhibition and support these women by purchasing their products,” Pawar added.

During the event, loans worth ₹40 crore were distributed to self-help groups in a single day. Pawar noted that during last year’s Mini Saras Savitri Jatra, loans worth around ₹19 crore were distributed in one day. Over the past year, loans totalling approximately ₹400 crore have been provided to self-help groups, reflecting the growing scale and impact of the initiative.

Referring to the state budget presented recently by Chief Minister and Finance Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Pawar said the government has taken several steps aimed at empowering women economically. She highlighted initiatives such as the ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin’ scheme, policies for the welfare of single women, and the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ programme, which aims to help women achieve financial independence.

The government has set a target of creating 25 lakh ‘Lakhpati Didis’ in the coming financial year. Approval has also been granted for setting up ‘UMED Malls’ in 13 districts to provide larger markets for products made by women’s self-help groups, she said.

Pawar added that the UMED initiative has played a significant role in strengthening the economic independence of rural women by connecting them with markets and ensuring fair value for their products. In Pune district alone, around 27,000 self-help groups with more than three lakh women members are part of the programme. Loans amounting to ₹1,687 crore have been extended to these groups through the initiative.

She also noted that various marketing platforms have been established to support women entrepreneurs, including 26 Punyashree Super Markets, four Punyashree eateries, a Savitri store in Ambegaon and a Savitri outlet at Pune International Airport.

Among those present at the event were Member of Parliament Dr. Medha Kulkarni, MLAs Bapusaheb Pathare and Shankar Mandekar, YASHADA Deputy Director Dr. Mallinath Kalashetti, Deputy Commissioner Nitin Mane, In-charge Chief Executive Officer Chandrakant Waghmare, Rural Development Agency Project Director Shalini Kadu, Deputy CEO Bhushan Joshi and goodwill ambassador of the Chief Minister Samruddha Panchayat Raj Campaign Shivali Parab.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Medha Kulkarni said several schemes are being implemented by the central government for women’s empowerment. She noted that more than four crore houses have been provided under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, many of them registered in women’s names, while around 60 percent of beneficiaries under the Mudra scheme are women.

Chandrakant Waghmare said the initiative aims to connect women from rural areas with urban markets while also promoting rural culture and entrepreneurship. He informed that the exhibition will continue for five days and appealed to citizens to visit and support the products made by women’s self-help groups.

During the event, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar also visited various stalls at the exhibition venue, interacted with the participants and appreciated the efforts of women self-help groups. Loans were distributed to eligible beneficiaries during the programme.