SHE Marts Mission: Scheme Eligibility, How to Apply and Other Details for Retail Outlet

SHE Mart Mission: the mission announced in the Budget 2026 to transform rural women from credit-seekers into enterprise owners under this initiative, community-owned retail outlets will be established in every district as a platform to sell products made by women, where items produced by Self-Help Groups and rural women will get access to new markets. 

"SHE" stands for ‘Self-Help Entrepreneur’. The state is now facilitating enterprise ownership, marts act as the "front-end" retail face for millions of women, allowing them to compete with established brands by offering professional branding and a reliable supply chain.

Objective of SHE Marts Mission:

The mission is introduced in the Budget 2026 after the success of Lakpati Didi scheme, main objective of the mission is to bridge the gap between rural production and urban/local consumption and women engaged in animal husbandry, agriculture-related activities and other occupations will no longer remain limited to subsistence livelihoods but will move forward as entrepreneurs. Its key objectives include:

• Market Access: Providing a permanent physical and digital platform for Self Help Group(SHG) made products. 

• Enterprise Transition: Moving women beyond "credit-led livelihoods" to becoming "owners of enterprises" especially for the rural women.

• Branding & Standardization: Helping rural products meet market standards through professional packaging and branding and market access. 

• Economic Independence: Ensuring sustainable and steady income opportunities for women which also contributes to the goal of creating 3 crore Lakhpati Didis mission.

• Strengthening Grassroots: Empowering Cluster-Level Federations (CLFs) to manage and scale community-owned businesses.

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Who Is Eligible For the Scheme? 

The SHE Marts Mission is specifically designed for women operating at grassroots level although detailed state-specific guidelines are rolling out, the general eligibility includes:

• SHG Mart Members: Women who are active members of a Self-Help Group (SHG) registered under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).

• Cluster-Level Federations (CLFs): The outlets are gerneally allotted to and managed by CLFs which act as the parent body for multiple village-level SHGs.

• Lakhpati Didi Beneficiaries: Women already identified or trained under the Lakhpati Didi scheme are given higher priority.

• Rural Artisans & Manufacturer: Women engaged in manufacturing, food processing, or traditional crafts within a rural cluster.

How You Can Apply?

SHE Marts are community-owned and operated through the existing SHG network, the application process is integrated into the State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLM).

Here is the Step-by-Step Application Guidelines:

Step 1: Join/Verify SHG Status: Ensure you are part of an active SHG in your area. If not, contact your local Gram Panchayat or Block Development Office to join one.

Step 2: Express Interest via CLF: Your Self-Help Group must submit a proposal or Expression of Interest to its respective Cluster-Level Federation (CLF).

Step 3: Product Appraisal: The CLF and SRLM officials will evaluate the products which your group produces  to check the quality, quantity, and marketability.

Step 4: Training & Skill Development: Once you are shortlisted, members receive training in inventory management, digital payments, and customer service.

Step 5: Access to Finance: Use the "Innovative Financing Instruments" mentioned in the budget to secure capital for your retail space or inventory.

Step 6: Digital Registration: States are launching dedicated portals like Jan Samarth where CLFs can register for ‘SHE Mart’ branding and support.

Note: SHE Mart initiative is a newly announced Budget 2026. You should keep an eye on your local District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) and State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLM) for the official notification of shop allotments in your area.

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