Poonch, November 9,2026- The District Urban Development Agency (DUDA), Poonch, is organising a three-day exhibition to showcase handmade products prepared by women members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs), providing them with an important platform to promote their skills, market their products and strengthen their financial independence.
Organised under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM), the exhibition aims to encourage women entrepreneurship and support the economic empowerment of women through self-employment and small business opportunities.
The three-day exhibition brings together women entrepreneurs and SHG members who are displaying a variety of handmade products reflecting their creativity, craftsmanship and entrepreneurial skills. The initiative provides participants an opportunity to directly showcase their products to visitors and potential customers, helping them explore new markets and generate income through their work.
The exhibition is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen women-led economic activities and create sustainable livelihood opportunities at the grassroots level. By offering a platform to display and sell their products, DUDA aims to encourage women to transform their traditional skills and creative abilities into income-generating activities.
Women Self-Help Groups play an important role in promoting financial inclusion, entrepreneurship and community development. Through collective participation, members can develop small businesses, share resources, improve their skills and work towards achieving greater economic stability.
Under the DAY-NULM scheme, eligible SHG members are also being supported through financial assistance and loan facilities to establish and expand small businesses. Such support is intended to help women overcome financial barriers, invest in their entrepreneurial activities and build independent sources of income.
Access to financial assistance and institutional credit can prove particularly beneficial for women who wish to start small-scale ventures but face difficulties in arranging the initial investment. By facilitating these opportunities, the programme seeks to encourage more women to participate in economic activities and contribute to their household incomes.
The exhibition also highlights the importance of providing women entrepreneurs with direct market access. While many SHG members possess traditional skills in handicrafts and other handmade products, reaching customers and finding suitable markets can often be challenging. Platforms such as this exhibition help bridge that gap by bringing their products directly before the public.
For participating women, the initiative offers more than just an opportunity to sell their products. It also provides exposure, confidence and encouragement to develop their businesses further. Interaction with customers can help them understand market preferences, improve product presentation and identify opportunities for expanding their activities.
The initiative reflects the broader objective of DAY-NULM to promote livelihood opportunities among urban poor households, particularly through skill development, self-employment and the formation of community-based institutions such as Self-Help Groups.
Women-led enterprises can contribute significantly to local economic development by creating employment opportunities, encouraging entrepreneurship and strengthening the financial position of families. Supporting these enterprises also helps preserve traditional craftsmanship while creating opportunities for women to participate more actively in the local economy.
The three-day exhibition in Poonch is another step towards encouraging women to become financially self-reliant and promoting a culture of entrepreneurship at the community level.
Through initiatives such as these, DUDA Poonch continues to provide opportunities for women Self-Help Groups to showcase their abilities, access financial support and explore sustainable livelihood options. The initiative underscores the importance of empowering women not only through financial assistance but also by creating platforms where their skills, products and entrepreneurial potential can receive wider recognition.
