Gangtok: In an effort to provide a platform for displaying and marketing local produce by the women Self Help Groups (SHGs) of Sikkim, the State government has initiated an e-commerce marketing platform in Sikkim.

Chief Minister P. S. Golay launched an online e-marketing website and the e-commerce mobile app "Swayam Sikkim for SHGs of Sikkim on December 4, informs a press release.

The e-marketing initiative was launched in collaboration with Ripples of Change Foundation and www.kalgudi.com. The e-marketing of Sikkim SHGS products are taken up in the brand name of Swayam Sikkim

During the launching programme, Rural Development principal secretary CS. Rao and RDD commissioner Dr. P Senthil Kumar explained the benefits of the e-commerce platform to the Chief Minister and the gathering.

The products of Sikkim SHGS are available both at www.swayamsikkim.com and www.kalgudi.com for an online purchase by individuals and organizations I national and international levels.

The initiative will benefit over 5200 women SHGS in Sikkim to market their product online with the support and facilitation by the Sikkim Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM), it was informed.

It is to be mentioned here that, in Sikkim, SRLM implements National Rural Livelihood Mission in an intensive approach in all four districts. There are more than 5200 SHGs with around 50000 members, as per the release.

The SHGS are federated into around 500 federations at the ward, GPU, and block levels. There are 21 producers groups and seven producers' organizations functioning under SRLM.

These SHGs make unique food products, handmade products that include handicrafts, hand-woven textiles, and natural remedies. Some of these products are extremely popular and widely recognized. However, meagre profit, low volumes, and inability to market themselves are making way for replacing these unique products with mechanization. These products have a huge market everywhere in India and abroad, the release mentions.