Namchi Collectorate Hosts Weekly Market Celebrating Artisans and Farmers

Fast Summary

• Every thursday, villagers in Namchi, Sikkim, set up stalls at the District Collectorate to sell homemade meals, farm products, snacks, and handicrafts.
• this initiative is part of “project Prayas,” an experiment initiated by District Magistrate Anupa Tamling in September 2024 to help small-scale rural producers gain visibility and connect with consistent buyers.
• Only self-help groups (SHGs), farmer-producer organisations (FPOs), and rural cooperatives are allowed to participate under strict guidelines emphasizing cleanliness and prohibiting single-use plastics or pre-manufactured goods.
• the project has become popular among both producers and consumers: SHGs saw an average income growth of 250.53%, earning ₹3,800-₹4,500 more on Thursdays then other days. For example, one SHG earns ₹4,000 on Thursdays compared to ₹1,000 otherwise.
• Government employees also appreciate the initiative as it allows them to buy farm-fresh produce while interacting directly with local farmers. Manny consider it a “no-tiffin day.”
• Future plans include marketing support for larger scale sales (Level 2) and financial literacy programs for managing earnings (Level 3).

Indian Opinion Analysis
Project Prayas represents an innovative approach towards empowering rural communities by leveraging administrative spaces as platforms for economic engagement and social connection. By fostering direct interaction between small-scale producers and potential customers at high-footfall government offices like the Collectorate in Namchi District, this model not only boosts incomes but also reduces barriers between administration officials and citizens from rural areas-a practical step toward inclusive governance.

The scalability of this project is significant; its structured three-stage framework lays out a clear roadmap that integrates local businesses into broader markets while promoting sustainable practices such as eliminating single-use plastics. Moreover, its success highlights how collaboration between government departments can create targeted solutions tailored to specific community needs.

For India’s broader context-where strengthening grassroots economies remains a top priority-initiatives like these underscore the importance of creative yet simple interventions that align administrative resources with public welfare objectives while encouraging self-reliance among underserved populations.

Read more: The Hindu