West Bengal State government to set up exclusive shopping mall for Self Help Groups' products

KOLKATA: Shopping malls will not just be about brands any longer in Bengal. Kolkata will soon have a mall that would sell handmade goods straight from the self-help group’s produce basket.

West Bengal government is planning to come up with a shopping mall in EM Bypass dedicated to the selling of the hand made products by the self-help group’s in the state. Through the mall the state government plans to give the self-help groups a permanent platform to exhibit and sell their products.
“Members of Self Help Groups will be allowed to display their produce alternatively for a month in the shops,” said Sadhan Pande, minister of state Self Help Group.

“While the state organises fairs to promote the self help groups, most fairs happen in winter and the platform would also help these groups get in touch with more whole-sellers or exporters alongside getting them more direct customers in the city,” Pande added.

The mall would be a platform for the present number of 50 lakh Self Help Groups in the state.

A 15 cottah land parcel has been bought from the Kolkata Improvement Trust. The lands costs a little over Rs10 crores.

Hooghly River Bridge Commissioners (HRBC) has been engaged to prepare a plan to set up the shopping mall. The mall would also be housing a Biswa Bangla stall.