42 Self-Help Groups in 6 Districts to Produce and Supply Ready-to-Eat Nutrition

Raipur, February 2026 : In a significant initiative aimed at women’s empowerment and eliminating malnutrition, the Government of Chhattisgarh has launched a pilot project in six districts, assigning the work of Ready-to-Eat (RTE) food production and distribution to women-led self-help groups (SHGs). Under this initiative, 42 women self-help groups across Raigarh, Bastar, Dantewada, Balodabazar–Bhatapara, Korba, and Surajpur have been entrusted with preparing nutritious food for Anganwadi centres.

Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai said the state government has decided to hand over the manufacturing and distribution of supplementary nutrition (Ready-to-Eat) for Anganwadi centres to women self-help groups. As part of this decision, 42 SHGs across six districts have been assigned the responsibility of producing and supplying RTE food.

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai, this mission to promote women’s empowerment and achieve freedom from malnutrition is being implemented as a pilot project in the first phase across Bastar, Dantewada, Balodabazar–Bhatapara, Korba, Raigarh, and Surajpur districts. Notably, Raigarh has become the first district in the state where women’s groups have begun Ready-to-Eat production, marking a major milestone. This initiative is expected to provide a new direction to both women’s economic prosperity and children’s health.

According to information from the Women and Child Development Department, Chhattisgarh, the distribution of responsibilities is as follows:

• Korba: 10 self-help groups
• Raigarh: 10 self-help groups
• Surajpur: 7 self-help groups
• Balodabazar–Bhatapara: 7 self-help groups
• Bastar: 6 self-help groups
• Dantewada: 2 self-help groups

These self-help groups are engaged in the production and distribution of supplementary nutrition (Ready-to-Eat) for Anganwadi centres, ensuring timely and nutritious meals for beneficiaries.

Women and Child Development Minister Lakshmi Rajwade said that the women associated with these groups will now not only provide nutritious food to Anganwadi children but will also increase their own income through this work, thereby becoming economically empowered. She described the scheme as a major step toward women’s self-employment as well as social and economic empowerment.

The Minister further stated that this is a significant and outcome-oriented initiative of the state government aimed at ensuring better health and nutritional security for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. She added that by supplying nutrition-rich food to children, the scheme will play a crucial role in improving the overall nutritional indicators of the state.

This pilot project underscores the Chhattisgarh government’s integrated approach to addressing malnutrition while simultaneously strengthening women’s livelihoods through community-led solutions.