The State Urban Livelihoods Mission (SULM), Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, organised the SHG Monsoon Mela 2026 on August 24 and 25 at the Delhi Secretariat premises, providing women entrepreneurs from across the capital with a platform to showcase and sell their handmade products.
The two-day event brought together Self-Help Groups (SHGs) from all 13 districts of Delhi and highlighted the growing entrepreneurial potential of women from urban communities. The initiative focused on connecting women-led enterprises directly with government officials, employees, visitors and prospective customers.
Women Entrepreneurs Take Centre Stage
The Mela was inaugurated by Rashmi Singh, IAS, Secretary, Women and Child Development Department, GNCTD. She congratulated the SULM team for its grassroots-level work through community organisers and for helping establish, nurture and strengthen SHGs across Delhi.
Singh appreciated the efforts being made to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for women and encouraged the continued development of SHG-led enterprises.
Lata Gupta, Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, attended the event as the special guest. She congratulated SULM and motivated SHG members to expand their businesses. Gupta also highlighted the commitment of the Delhi government to provide women entrepreneurs with greater marketing opportunities and platforms to sell their products.
Handmade Products Showcase Delhi’s Creativity
The Monsoon Mela offered visitors a wide range of handmade and locally produced goods. Products displayed by participating SHGs reflected the creativity, traditional skills and commercial potential of women from different parts of Delhi.
The event was designed not merely as a sales opportunity but as a platform to demonstrate how livelihood programmes can help women move from being homemakers to confident entrepreneurs.
SULM is implementing livelihood initiatives under the DAY-NULM and DJAY-S Pilot schemes, with a focus on skill development, enterprise creation and market access.
According to SULM, around 1,400 SHGs have been formed across Delhi’s 13 districts, creating livelihood and enterprise opportunities for approximately 14,000 urban poor women.
Training Helps Women Build Sustainable Enterprises
SULM has supported SHG members through several skill and product-development programmes aimed at improving the quality and diversity of their products.
Training areas have included paper mache, Madhubani art in collaboration with NIFT Delhi, herbal soap and candle making, Dhaula pattal production, papad and pickle making, handmade jewellery, bakery products and herbal gulal, among other crafts.
The programme has also placed emphasis on business knowledge. Members have received Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) and financial literacy training to help them understand enterprise management, finances and sustainable business practices.
This combination of technical skills and business training is intended to give women greater confidence to establish and manage their own enterprises.
Expanding Market Access Beyond Delhi
SULM has recognised that production alone cannot guarantee sustainable livelihoods and has therefore focused significantly on connecting SHGs with markets.
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Women entrepreneurs have received opportunities to participate in SHG Melas, set up stalls at the Delhi Secretariat and other government office complexes, and showcase their products at the India International Trade Fair (IITF).
Digital marketing has also emerged as an important area of support. SULM facilitated digital marketing training for SHG members at IIT Delhi, helping them understand how online platforms can be used to reach customers beyond traditional physical markets.
Some Delhi SHG products have also gained international exposure, with products reaching markets in countries including Malaysia, Canada, the United States and several European nations.
SHGs Support Delhi’s Textile Circularity Drive
An emerging livelihood opportunity for SHG members has been created through the ARPAN Textile Circularity Initiative, a joint effort involving SULM, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and recycling partners.
Under the initiative, SHG members work as kiosk personnel at ARPAN Kendras located at Metro stations, helping collect old clothes donated by citizens. Members are also being involved in converting textile waste into useful and marketable products.
The initiative connects women’s entrepreneurship with environmental protection, waste management and the principles of a circular economy.
A Platform for Empowerment and Opportunity
The SHG Monsoon Mela 2026 showcased a broader transformation taking place among Delhi’s urban women. Through training, financial awareness, enterprise development and market opportunities, SHG members are increasingly moving towards independent and sustainable livelihoods.
By bringing their products into a high-visibility location such as the Delhi Secretariat, SULM provided women entrepreneurs with direct access to potential customers while giving government stakeholders an opportunity to witness their work.
The Mela ultimately served as a celebration of the determination, creativity and resilience of Delhi’s women entrepreneurs. More than a two-day sales event, it highlighted how grassroots livelihood initiatives can help women build enterprises, access wider markets and create stronger economic opportunities for themselves and their families.
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