Raipur, November 19, 2025/ Wednesday was a day that brought new energy to rural livelihoods, women’s entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion in the Dhamtari district of Chhattisgarh. On the occasion of the state-level distribution ceremony of the 21st installment of Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi, Union Rural Development Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in the presence of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Deo Sai, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Vijay Sharma, other public representatives, and thousands of rural women, unveiled the much-awaited integrated state brand ‘ChhattisKala’ and the Digital Finance Booklet.
Rural women’s products get the state’s first integrated brand ‘ChhattisKala’
The state government and Chhattisgarh Rural Livelihood Mission (Bihan) have launched the ‘ChhattisKala’ brand with the aim of providing a single identity and integrated market platform for quality products manufactured by poor rural women of the state. Under this brand, there is a plan to provide a wide market with standardization, packaging, and branding for diverse products including millet-based food products, tea, pickles, snacks, handloom and handicrafts like Dhokra art, bamboo crafts, soil and wooden products, incense sticks, and puja materials. Union Minister Shri Chouhan said that the ChhattisKala brand will be a symbol of the hard work, skill, and self-reliance of rural women. This brand will take their products from the state to national and international markets.
Digital Finance Booklet documenting the success stories of 48 BC Sakhis launched
During the program, Union Minister Shri Chouhan also released the Digital Finance Booklet, which chronicles the inspirational successes of 48 Banking Correspondent Sakhis (BC Sakhis) from across the state.
3775 BC Sakhis are actively providing banking services
Currently, a total of 3775 BC Sakhis are actively providing doorstep banking services in Chhattisgarh and have transacted over Rs 3033.48 crore in the last four years. The Union Minister stated that women who were once hesitant to step out of their homes are now bringing financial services to every village, paving the way for social and economic change.
Thousands of Self-Help Groups receive Financial Empowerment
This grand event provided significant financial assistance to rural women’s groups. Under this, Rs 1.62 crore in revolving fund was provided to 1080 self-help groups, Rs 50.04 crore in community investment fund to 8340 self-help groups, and Rs 229.74 crore through bank linkage. Additionally, Rs 6.23 crore in entrepreneurship loans was disbursed to 1533 women entrepreneurs. These financial provisions will boost the income of rural women, facilitate the establishment of new enterprises, and strengthen economic self-reliance.
New direction for Rural Prosperity, Women’s Leadership, and Self-Reliance
This event in Dhamtari was not just a disbursement of financial aid but also a significant step towards realizing the vision of an ‘Atmanirbhar Gramin Chhattisgarh’ (Self-Reliant Rural Chhattisgarh). The ‘ChhattisKala’ brand, the BC Sakhi model, and comprehensive financial support will together prove transformative for rural livelihoods.