# In Bageshwar, over 15 women turn government canteens into a path to self-reliance, selling aipan and spices on the side

> Women from a self-help group now run the canteens at Bageshwar's Vikas Bhawan and the district office, providing livelihoods to more than 15 women who also earn extra income by making and selling aipan, spices and other local products.

**Type:** article · **Category:** Uttarakhand · **Published:** 2026-09-08 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/uttarakhand/bageshwar-men-sarakari-kaintina-chalakara-atmanirbhara-banin-15-se-jyada-mahilaen-aipana-aura-masale-bhi-becha-raha-samuha-29536 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Bageshwar, self help group, women empowerment, self employment, Uttarakhand canteen, aipan spices

In Uttarakhand's Bageshwar district, women linked to a self-help group have taken charge of the canteens inside two government buildings, turning what began as a modest side job into a steady livelihood for more than 15 women. The canteens at Vikas Bhawan and the district office are now held up as an example of how self-employment initiatives can grow into wider community benefit.

## A five-woman start
According to Sunita Tamta, who is part of the group, the canteen at Vikas Bhawan was launched in May 2025 under the name Naman Self Help Group, with just five women running it. Resources were limited in the early days, and getting the operation off the ground was not easy. But the women put in consistent effort, focusing on cleanliness and the quality of the food they served. That focus gradually won over the trust of officials and staff at the office, and the canteen began drawing steady support.

## Success at Vikas Bhawan opens the door to the district office
Once the Vikas Bhawan canteen was running smoothly, the group's women were given the opportunity to also operate a self-help group canteen at the district office. They approached this new responsibility with the same dedication and made it a success as well. The team here, too, started small, but as the workload grew, so did the number of women joining the group. Today, more than 15 women are directly employed across the two canteens and earning a regular income, more than three times the original team of five.

## Beyond the counter: aipan, spices and local products
Sunita Tamta says the group's earnings are not limited to canteen operations alone. The women also make aipan, several varieties of spices and other local products by hand, which they then sell in the market. Ahead of festivals and special occasions, the group prepares these local products in advance so they can be delivered to the market at the right time. This gives the women an additional source of income through the year, rather than depending solely on canteen earnings.

## Government schemes add support, confidence grows
Bhavna Rawat, who works with the group, said working through a self-help group has brought the women several benefits. Being part of the group also makes it easier for them to access government schemes, which plays an important role in strengthening their finances. She said working through the group has boosted the women's confidence, and they are moving steadily toward self-reliance through their own earnings.

## District officer calls it a model for women's empowerment
Sangeeta Arya, the District Development Officer, said women linked to self-help groups are doing commendable work, and that it is the government's objective for women to become self-reliant while strengthening their finances. She said these women have not only improved their own economic condition by running the canteens well, but have also brought other rural women along, giving them a source of employment. From running canteens to making aipan, spices and other local products, this initiative is giving self-employment a new direction while standing as a strong example of women's empowerment.

## What this means for you
The Bageshwar initiative shows how handing over a routine responsibility like a government canteen can become a lasting source of income for women.

- **Across India:** The model shows how canteens in government buildings elsewhere can be handed to self-help groups to create direct jobs for women. Women interested in replicating this can approach their local administration to explore similar arrangements.
- **In Bageshwar:** More than 15 women in the district now earn a direct, regular income from running the two canteens. This is strengthening the monthly finances of these families and creating fresh local employment opportunities.
- **Extra income streams:** Selling local products like aipan and spices gives the women additional earnings through the year. Buyers interested in these products can reach out to the group, especially around festival season.
- **Access to government schemes:** Being part of the group makes it easier for women to access government schemes. Interested women can join a self-help group through their block or district office to avail similar benefits.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. Where are these canteens located in Bageshwar?
The canteens are run at Vikas Bhawan and the district office in Bageshwar.

### 2. When and by whom was the canteen started?
The Naman Self Help Group started the canteen at Vikas Bhawan in May 2025 with five women.

### 3. How many women are currently involved?
More than 15 women are currently employed across both canteens through the group.

### 4. When did the group get the district office canteen?
After successfully running the Vikas Bhawan canteen, the group's women got the opportunity to also operate the canteen at the district office.

### 5. Does the group earn only from the canteens?
No, the group also makes and sells aipan, various spices and other local products for additional income.

### 6. What did the district administration say about this initiative?
District Development Officer Sangeeta Arya called it a model for women's empowerment, saying the government wants women to become self-reliant.

## Inspiration & Lessons
The story of these Bageshwar women shows that even limited resources are enough to begin, as long as effort and consistency don't waver.

- **Don't be afraid of a small start:** What began with just five women and limited resources has now grown to employ more than 15 women. It shows that big outcomes need sustained effort more than they need big resources at the start.
- **Quality builds trust:** Focusing on cleanliness and food quality is what won the canteen its early support. Good work tends to open further opportunities on its own, as shown when the group was handed the district office canteen too.
- **Don't rely on a single income source:** Alongside the canteen, the group started making and selling aipan, spices and other local products, creating multiple income streams. Diversifying income builds greater financial stability.
- **Use the strength of working together:** Being part of a group made it easier for the women to access government schemes, something that would be harder to achieve individually. Working collectively opens up access to both resources and opportunities.

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