Bihar retail outlet plan to benefit women vegetable
vendors

By Imran Khan, Patna, June 11:

Hundreds of woman vegetable vendors here are looking
forward to freedom from hardship as the Bihar
government has decided to open swanky air-conditioned
vegetable outlets for them.

"I heard the government plans to help us by opening
vegetable outlets. It is really a good news for woman
vendors like me," said Mangri Devi, a vegetable
vendor.

The mother of five sells vegetables on the dirty,
chaotic pavements at Antaghat, one of the retail
vegetable markets here. "Life is not easy. I have been
doing it for the sake of my family. I have no option,"
said Mangri Devi, whose husband works as a labourer.

Last week, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar decided
to introduce 'Bihar Green' at a high level meeting
here. The project is aimed at helping vegetable
farmers and vendors, particularly women, by opening
vegetable outlets for them.

Vijay Prakash, secretary of the state welfare
department, told IANS: "The project is one of the
several moves by Nitish Kumar to promote agri-based
businesses and empower women. The government has
decided to form self-help groups of women involved in
vegetable farming and selling the produce on the lines
of successful milk cooperative Sudha Dairy".

Official sources said small vegetable outlets would be
set up on the lines of Sudha Dairy booths.

"To begin with, the small vegetable outlets will be
set up near the existing Sudha Dairy booths in Patna
and later in Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Purnia, Gaya and
Bhagalpur districts," an official said.

The government plans to open its centrally
air-conditioned vegetable outlets in Patna well before
Reliance Fresh and other major players start their
grocery retail business here.

"The women will be provided assistance in setting up
their shops to run on minimum profit so as to compete
with big business houses like Reliance," officials
said.

They added that the government would train woman
vegetable vendors and improve their communication
skills. They will also be taught the importance of
hygiene and how to keep vegetables fresh. These women
would no longer sell surplus vegetables at slashed
prices. "The women vendors will fix their own prices
daily at the vegetable outlets," officials said.

"The government move has the potential to benefit
vegetable vendors and farmers if the scheme is
implemented sincerely," said a merchant at Bazaar
Samiti. Bazar Samiti is the largest wholesale market
of vegetables and fruits in the state.

--- IANS





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