DC calls for local participation; Rural Mart to promote native food, crafts and women-led livelihoods
Bandipora :With an aim to promote the local livelihood by providing multiple facilities under one roof for the tourists visiting various tourism attraction places at Bandipora including Gurez, the District Administration Bandipora is setting up a one of its kind Rural Mart at a beautifully located YaaliPethkoot area of the district.
The Rural Mart shall be a wonderful facility for the tourists, as well as locals which will provide a range of amenities, including food and refreshment facilities, washrooms, parking, seating and resting spaces under a single roof . Besides it shall give impetus to the local livelihood by creating a sustainable and eco-friendly economic opportunities for the residents.
In order to monitor and expedite the ongoing construction work on the Rural Mart for its timely completion in next 45 days, the Deputy Commissioner (DC) Bandipora, Indu Kanwal Chib, Friday visited the Mart site and took spot inspection of the work progress.
Executive Engineer R&B, informed that the Rural Mart is being constructed under the SSY at an approved cost of Rs 47 lakh. He informed that around 40 percent of the work has been completed so far and the project is expected to be completed by October 2026.
On the occasion, the DC held an interaction with the locals of YaaliPethkoot, and apprised them about the purpose and potential of the Rural Mart being established in their locality. She called for active participation of the local community esp women in making the initiative successful.
The DC said the initiative is expected to provide an important platform for local artisans, entrepreneurs, food-preneurs, self-help groups and other community members to showcase and sell their articles directly to visitors, thereby creating avenues for income generation and employment in the surrounding villages.
With its beautiful strategic location on the route towards Gurez, and overlooking Wullar, the facility is also being conceived as a tourist attraction in its own right, encouraging visitors to spend time in the area while offering them a meaningful introduction to the region’s local products, hospitality and culture.
“The broader objective is to create a model where tourism and local livelihoods grow together, ensuring that increased tourist movement translates into tangible economic opportunities for the communities living around the destination,” the DC said.
She further informed that the business operations of the Rural Mart will be run by locals on a rotational basis.
The DC said the women entrepreneurs will be provided proper training for managing the business and day-to-day operations of the Rural Mart, enabling them to effectively run the facility and generate livelihood opportunities.
