565 Indira Mahila Shakti stalls set up for Medaram Maha Jatara, SHG women to gain

The State government has sanctioned 565 Indira Mahila Shakti (IMS) stalls at an estimated cost of ₹6 crore for the Medaram Maha Jathara to strengthen the economic livelihood of women self-help group (SHG) members. The Medaram Jatara, scheduled to be held from January 28, 2026 to January 31, 2026 in S.S. Tadvai mandal of Mulugu district, attracts tens of millions of people from across the State and neighbouring regions.

The stalls have been sanctioned through the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) in line with the State government’s focus on women’s economic empowerment. Of the total units, 464 have been set up in and around Medaram Sammakk-Saralamma shrine, 63 along the Medaram approach roads, and the remaining at other locations, covering 37 sites in and around Medaram in the SS Tadvai mandal in the district. Women SHG members will operate 27 categories of businesses catering to devotees visiting the tribal fair, according to local MLA and Minister for Panchayat Raj and Rural Development (PR &RD) Dansari Anasuya Seethakka, who took special initiative to help the SHG members.

Funding support for the units includes ₹341.30 lakh in bank linkage for 315 units, ₹86.50 crore from SERP Community Investment Fund (CIF) for 80 units, ₹92 lakh from Stree Nidhi for 90 units, ₹64 lakh from Mandal Samakhya CIF for 60 units, and ₹19.50 lakh from Gram Samakhya funds for 20 units.

The stalls offer a wide range of products, including laddus made of millets, ragi and peanuts, cold-pressed oils, spices, bakery items, snacks, tea, groceries, pooja materials, vegetables, flowers, milk products, fast food, and tribal specialities. We are confident of doing good business during the Jatara,” said a member of the Rajarajeshwari SHG from Kothur village, who is running a kirana shop at Medaram. A key attraction this year is the introduction of bamboo chicken stalls, a traditional tribal delicacy, along routes leading to Medaram.