SHG women earned ₹3.09 crore profit at Medaram Maha Jatara

Women self-help groups (SHGs) under the Indira Mahila Shakti initiative earned a total profit of ₹3.09 crore by operating 565 income-generating units during the recent Medaram Sammakka-Saralamma Maha Jatara in Mulugu district.

According to District Collector T.S. Divakara, SHGs linked to the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty and the District Rural Development Agency invested ₹6.03 crore and generated a total income of ₹9.12 crore. This highlights the strong economic role played by SHG women during the biennial tribal congregation.

“A total of 481 units were set up at the main jatara site in Medaram, while 84 units were established along the routes leading to the venue, reflecting a decentralised approach to livelihood generation. The activities ranged from food processing and traditional tribal products to mobile retail units and small eateries,” an official said.

Among individual success stories, a bamboo chicken unit operated by an SHG member from SS Tadavai mandal generated a profit of ₹1.28 lakh on an investment of ₹75,000 at the Jampanna Vagu site. Similarly, a group producing mahua flower (Ippa Puvvu) laddus reported a profit of ₹8.18 lakh with an investment of ₹3 lakh, indicating strong demand for traditional tribal food products.

Mulugu MLA and Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister D.Anasuya at the bamboo chicken unit at Medaram Jatara.
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A mobile fish retail outlet set up under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana by a Mulugu mandal SHG member recorded daily earnings of about ₹8,000, supported by a combination of subsidy, bank linkage and community investment funds.

A bamboo chicken stall set up by Saraswathi SHG of Reddygudem village near Medaram during the Maha Jatara.
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Officials said the initiative aligns with the broader objectives of the Indira Mahila Shakti programme, which aims to transform SHG women into entrepreneurs through financial support, skill development and market linkages.

The performance during the jatara is being viewed as a model for leveraging large gatherings to create sustainable income opportunities for rural women.