Women’s Self-Help Groups in Raigarh Begin Production of ‘Ready-to-Eat’ Meals

Finance Minister O.P. Choudhary inaugurates Ready-to-Eat unit at Kotarlia
Pilot project in 6 districts; Raigarh becomes the first to start production

Raipur, Aug 2025 : Under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, the Chhattisgarh government has reinstated the responsibility of producing supplementary nutrition food “Ready-to-Eat” to women’s self-help groups, fulfilling the guarantee of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This significant initiative has begun from Raigarh district. Recently, Chief Minister Sai handed over contract letters to 10 women’s self-help groups in Raigarh. Following rapid installation of machinery, the production of Ready-to-Eat meals has now officially commenced at Kotarlia Gram Panchayat in Raigarh district.

Chief Minister Sai said the initiative will not only make women economically self-reliant but also ensure that Anganwadi children receive quality and nutritious food. He added that the national goal is to create three crore “Lakhpati Didis” (women earning over one lakh annually), and Chhattisgarh is progressing rapidly towards this target. With this step, Raigarh has emerged as a pioneer district in the campaign.

On the occasion of Independence Day, Finance Minister O.P. Choudhary inaugurated the Ready-to-Eat production unit at Kotarlia. He personally operated the machines to review the production process and directed the women’s groups to maintain strict quality standards. He said that what has started in Raigarh will soon expand to all districts of the state, becoming an inspiring model for Chhattisgarh.

Currently, 2,709 Anganwadi centers are operating in Raigarh district. Ten self-help groups have been selected to supply nutrition for these centers. These groups are also receiving capital subsidies under the Prime Minister’s Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) Scheme. Soon, groups from Raigarh Urban, Raigarh Rural, Pusaur, Kharsia, Gharghoda, Tamnar, Lailunga, Mukdega, Dharamjaigarh, and Kapu will also begin production, though operations have already started in Kotarlia.

It is notable that under Chief Minister Sai’s leadership, the mission for women’s empowerment and malnutrition eradication is being implemented in the first phase as a pilot project across six districts—Bastar, Dantewada, Balodabazar, Korba, Raigarh, and Surajpur. Among these, Raigarh has become the first district where women’s groups have successfully begun Ready-to-Eat production. This initiative promises to give a new dimension to both women’s economic empowerment and children’s health.