Mamata launches Shilpanno to promote SHGs in state
The Statesman | 11 July 2025
The state government will set up shopping malls in every district headquarters to help the self-help group (SHG) members to sell their products, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said today.
She inaugurated Shilpanno, a support centre to sell Bengal’s traditional leather, textile and other cottage industry products.
Miss Banerjee said the state government will give land to the interested groups to set up the buildings. Two floors will be earmarked for the SHGs. “Our SHG members are doing excellent work but are attending the fairs organised by the state government to sell their products. But they do not get a chance to sell their products round the year. When the shopping malls are completed they will be able to sell their products round the year,”she said.
Shilpanno is situated opposite Alipore Jail Museum. The building is centrally air-conditioned and houses 46 stalls. There are stalls to sell leather goods, sarees, toys etc. The sarees are priced anything between Rs 300 and Rs 3,000 and have been produced by the weavers. She urged people to visit stalls and buy the various products.
She virtually inaugurated Sulagno, the newly-built camp office for senior officials at Alipore. “This will help the senior state government officials to stay close to the administrative headquarters Nabanna and my residence at Kalighat. The state chief secretary and director general of police also stay in Alipore. In times of emergency, all will be able to work together,” she maintained.
She opened Abhinno, a sales outlet to showcase the products made by the women inmates of correctional home. She bought two packets of chida, muri and two flutes. “We have given training to our inmate sisters so that when they complete their jail term, they will be able to start their own business and become self-reliant.” She virtually inaugurated 14 Banglar Saree showrooms featuring festive saree collections.
Miss Banerjee said MSME Bengal is number 1 in the country and 1.30 crore people work in 90 lakh MSME units across the state. She said a sum of Rs 2.10 lakh crore investment proposals have come to the state government from 57 synergies.
She said the industrialists have shown keen interest to invest in Bengal.
State ministers Firhad Hakim and Dr Shashi Panja, Debashis Kumar MLA, senior state government officials, Subrata Bakshi, Trinamul Congress state president and Rajya Sabha MP attended the meeting.