The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) is participating in the Side Event Exhibition at the BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting in Kochi, Kerala on July 8-9, 2026, showcasing women-led rural enterprises from across India under India's BRICS Chairship. The exhibition was inaugurated by Annapurna Devi, Minister for Women and Child Development, and Savitri Thakur, Minister of State for Women and Child Development, with visits from ministers and senior delegates from Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Indonesia.
The MoRD pavilion comprises 21 State and Union Territory stalls along with the National Saras Aajeevika Gallery, showcasing diverse products including handlooms, handicrafts, traditional arts, natural foods, wellness products, and sustainable lifestyle products. The exhibition highlights the achievements of rural women entrepreneurs and Self-Help Group enterprises, demonstrating the transformative impact of collective institutions in strengthening rural livelihoods and promoting economic empowerment.
The National Saras Aajeevika Gallery presents a curated showcase of premium products featuring the Saras Shakti Collection, a premium gifting initiative under DAY-NRLM that curates high-quality handcrafted products from rural women SHGs into branded institutional gift collections. The exhibition features traditional crafts including Madhubani paintings, Dokra and Bell Metal crafts, Pen Kalamkari, Phulkari embroidery, Toda embroidery, Kantha work, Kutchi crafts, Channapatna toys, and Aipan art.
The event showcases the contribution of over 10 crore women associated with Self-Help Groups toward local economic development and presents SHG enterprises as globally competitive niche enterprises, reflecting India's commitment to women-led development and sustainable livelihoods. This content may not be financially relevant.