Using SHGs IDs women can carry goods up to 25kg for free in government buses: Udhayanidhi Stalin

Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said that with the possession of Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) identity cards, women could carry 25 kg luggage for 100 km in government buses for free.  

Inaugurating the 12-day-long Saras Mela – 2025 here at Tamukkam Convention Centre on Saturday, he urged the women to immediately apply for their ID cards as it would benefit them in several ways to promote and develop their business.  

“While the Saras Mela held in Chennai in 2024 recorded ₹1.57 crore sales in five days, I expect the mela in Madurai to surpass that sales,” he added. 

Pointing out the sales of SHG products worth ₹620 crore in the last four years in the State, he commented that it remained just at ₹10 crore/ year during 10 years in the previous government.

“Chief Minister M.K. Stalin beginning from his first day in the office has been focusing on the women and their welfare. Many schemes like SHG welfare measures, ‘Vidiyal Payanam,’ ‘Magalir Urimai Thittam,’ among others were some of the outcomes of the Dravidian government,” he noted.  

A few of the women self-help-groups from Tamil Nadu would be going global shortly, said Tamil Nadu Corporation for Women Development Managing Director R.V. Shajeevana.

Speaking to The Hindu on the sidelines of the first national-level SHG exhibition, she said that our SHGs are now stepping onto the international stage.

For the first time, the SHGs would be showcasing their home decor products at an expo in Sydney and Germany shortly.

She said that Madurai, which is hosting the first State-level SHG expo here, had combined the event with a vibrant food festival.

With participation from as many as eight States across the country, the SHGs are showcasing diverse products, crafts, and culinary traditions.

The MD said that for the first time, the event is witnessing a record breaking number of stalls. The previous highest at a SARAS fair was 120 stalls. The SHG centric initiatives highlight SHG products and capabilities, including mementos, aprons, vegetables, masalas and more for the food festival.

A visitor engagement session and interest-based skill workshops are arranged such as baking, vegetable carving, mehndi and other creative sessions.

She hoped a huge footfall to the expo as they have conducted campaigns through multiple modes, including social media.

Tamil Nadu today has five lakh SHGs, comprising 46 lakh women. Their products are also available online under the “Mathi” brand, expanding market access and visibility, Ms Shajeevana said and added that in many districts, the SHGs are silently making a revolution and proving their mettle.

Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration P. Moorthy, Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Rural Development Department and Panchayat Raj Department, Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Collector K.J. Praveen Kumar, Corporation Commissioner Chitra Vijayan and others were present at the event.