- Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai unveils ‘Chhattisgarh Herbals’ Diwali gift packs
- A significant step toward securing a larger market for local products and boosting the income of women’s self-help groups and forest produce collectors
Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai unveiled the ‘Chhattisgarh Herbals’ Diwali gift packs today at his official residence in the Civil Lines area of the capital, Raipur. These attractive gift packs feature local and herbal products crafted by women’s self-help groups associated with ‘Van Dhan Vikas Kendras’ (Forest Wealth Development Centers). This initiative will not only provide a wider market for high-quality local products from Chhattisgarh but also strengthen the livelihoods of minor forest produce collectors and women’s self-help groups.
Appreciating this innovative initiative, Chief Minister Shri Sai stated that Chhattisgarh’s abundant forest resources serve as a vital foundation for the livelihoods of millions of forest-dwelling families. He emphasized that his government is committed to ensuring that maximum value addition to forest produce takes place within the state, allowing the direct economic benefits to reach the collectors and the associated women’s groups.
The Chief Minister noted that through the ‘Van Dhan Vikas Kendras,’ women are processing local forest produce to create high-quality goods. By providing these products with better packaging, branding, and market access, the government is offering new recognition to their hard work and creating better income opportunities. The ‘Chhattisgarh Herbals’ Diwali gift packs are a meaningful step in this direction.
Urging the people of the state to prioritize local products, the Chief Minister remarked that when we purchase or gift items made in Chhattisgarh, the benefits go directly to families in our forest regions and to women’s self-help groups. Embracing local products is a way to support our traditions, foster local entrepreneurship, and strengthen our rural economy. It is noteworthy that ‘Chhattisgarh Herbals’ has curated Diwali gift packs in two categories: Premium and Standard. The Premium gift pack contains nine selected products, while the Standard gift pack includes five.
Citizens can purchase these gift packs from ‘Sanjeevani’ retail outlets, operated by the Chhattisgarh State Minor Forest Produce Cooperative Federation. This initiative offers an opportunity to integrate the tradition of Diwali gift-giving with local products from Chhattisgarh, women’s entrepreneurship, and the livelihoods of tribal communities.
- A Blend of Forest Resources and Traditional Flavors of Chhattisgarh
The Diwali gift packs feature a diverse range of products rooted in the state’s forest resources and local culinary traditions. These include Jamun juice, Jamun spread, Amla candy, tamarind candy, cookies made from Kodo millet and Mahua, Chyawanprash, wild forest honey, spiced and savory cashews from Bastar, green tea from Jashpur, and Aloe Vera gel.
These products beautifully showcase a combination of Chhattisgarh’s natural wealth, traditional food culture, and the entrepreneurial skills of women’s self-help groups. The high-quality packaging and marketing of these items—crafted from local forest produce—are also helping to establish a distinct identity for the ‘Chhattisgarh Herbals’ brand.
- Products Crafted at ‘Van Dhan Vikas Kendras’
The items included in these gift packs are produced at various ‘Van Dhan Vikas Kendras’ (Forest Wealth Development Centers) and processing units across the state. These include centers in Kaurinbhata (Rajnandgaon), Bodla (Kawardha), Panchakki (Jashpur), Asana (Jagdalpur), Dugli (Dhamtari), and Donganala (Katghora), as well as the central processing unit in Jamgaon (M), Durg.
These Van Dhan Vikas Kendras generate an annual turnover of approximately ₹60 to ₹70 lakh. Through the processing and value addition of forest produce, they are creating local employment and income opportunities. Women’s self-help groups, in particular, are becoming economically self-reliant by engaging in activities such as production, processing, and packaging.
The direct benefits from the processing, manufacturing, and marketing of ‘Van Dhan’ (forest-based) products accrue to forest produce collectors and women’s self-help groups. The increased demand and sales of these products—driven by initiatives like Diwali gift packs—will not only strengthen the economy of forest-dwelling regions but also provide a fresh impetus to the economic empowerment of these women’s groups.