Mahila e-Haat - for Indian Women Entrepreneurs

In a path-breaking initiative, the Minister of Women and Child Development, Maneka Gandhi launched "Mahila e-Haat", an online marketing platform for women in New Delhi to mark Women's Day.

Mahila e-Haat is a unique online platform where participants can display their products. It is an initiative for women across the country as a part of 'Digital India' and 'Start-Up India' initiatives of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

The Mahila e-Haat portal can be accessed at http://mahilaehaat-rmk.gov.in.

How Mahila e-Haat will empower women:

The empowerment of women will take place in three stages in which Mahila e-Haat is the first stage.

In the second stage, it is planned to integrate it with e-commerce portals to provide a larger platform for selling and buying.

Ultimately it will culminate into Women's Entrepreneurs Council which will help to expand this initiative further and give it an institutional shape.

The e-Haat is expected to result in paradigm shift enabling women to exercise control over their finances. The entire business of e-Haat can be handled through mobile phone.

The product, along with photograph description, cost and mobile number and address of the participants will be displayed on the e-Haat enabling direct contact between sellers and service providers and buyers.

How many women will be benefitted by Mahila e-Haat:

More than 10000 Self Help Groups (SHGs) and 1.25 Lakh women beneficiaries would be benefited from the day of launch of the site itself. Participation in e-Haat is open to all Indian women citizens more than 18 years of age and women SHGs desiring for marketing their legal products or services after indemnifying RMK from any or all acts of transaction.

Minister Maneka Gandhi's comments at the launch of Mahila e-Haat:

"This initiative can prove to be a game changer since it will provide access to markets to thousands of women who make products and are spread all over the country but have little access to markets. The initiative is unique since this is the first time that the government will help women to sell products online," the Minister added.

Congratulating Rahstriya Mahila Kosh and all those involved in creating the portal, the Minister said that it is web page based and has unlimited reach and can, therefore become catalyst in creating a new generation of business women.

Mrs. Maneka Gandhi further explained that the endeavour will help women to make financial economic choices which will enable them to be a part of 'Make In India' and 'Start-Up India' initiatives of PM Modi.

Secretary V. Somasundaran's remarks at the launch of Mahila e-Haat:

As per the Secretary Women and Children Development V. Somasundaran the Mahila E-Haat will help to meet the goal of financial inclusion of women and it is a big step forward for empowerment of women.

He further added that, "Mahila E-Haat is an initiative for meeting aspirations and need of women entrepreneurs which will leverage technology for showcasing products made, manufactured or sold by women entrepreneurs. They can even showcase those services being provided by them which reflect creative potential e.g. tailoring. This unique e-platform will strengthen the socio-economic empowerment of women as it will mobilise and provide better avenues to them."