Give women the right opportunity, a platform and some encouragement, and they fall behind no one. Whether it is education or farming, business or community leadership, they are proving their worth everywhere. When resources, training and a path to independence reach them, the benefit does not stop at their own household income; it shows up in the progress of the whole village and region. The rural market in Chedabar village of Chainpur block is a living picture of exactly that change.
A Market Idea Born In A Meeting
Sunita Devi told TrendKia that the foundation of this Batua rural market was laid back in 2022 during an ordinary meeting. The women of the self-help group were talking among themselves when one of them mentioned that she had 15 to 20 kilos of tomatoes lying with her, and that she would have to travel all the way to Daltonganj to sell them. Hearing this, the other women of the group pooled together and bought her entire stock right there.
As it happened, that day was a Thursday. Building on that very moment, the women decided that from then on a market would be set up in the village itself every Thursday, so that no woman would have to make the long trip to a distant town to sell her produce. That small effort has today grown into a full-fledged rural market.
Didi Bari Yojana Opened The Door To Income
Behind this success lies the active role of the self-help groups along with a big push from government schemes. Under the Didi Bari Yojana, the women took up vegetable farming and lined up buyers within the village itself for their produce. Women who once stayed confined within the four walls of their homes are now running the market themselves and playing a key role in raising their families' incomes.
Having a market at the local level brought a direct advantage: the dependence on faraway towns to sell produce simply ended. This saves both time and money. On the other side, villagers now get fresh vegetables and essential daily items right in their own village.
15 To 20 Stalls Every Thursday
Today the Chedabar rural market has made a name for itself across the surrounding areas. On Thursdays a large market is set up here, with 15 to 20 stalls. Apart from fresh vegetables, the women sell fast food, bangles, cosmetic and beauty items, and goods of everyday use. The market actually runs daily, but it is at its liveliest on Thursdays. Open from 3 PM to 7 PM, this market is giving the rural economy a fresh direction.
The Demand For A Permanent Shed
Sunita Devi, who is part of the market, says that running it becomes extremely difficult during rain, harsh sun and storms. Sitting out in the open, there is always the risk of the vegetables going bad. The women are therefore demanding that the government build a permanent shed here, so that the market can run in a more organised manner. They say that if this facility is provided, the reach of the market will grow further and the earnings of the women linked to it will rise too.
