Goa Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant has announced that closed school buildings across the state will be offered to Self-Help Groups (SHGs) to establish their units and businesses. The move aims to put unused government infrastructure to productive use while creating more opportunities for women-led enterprises and grassroots entrepreneurship.
The Chief Minister said the government is also extending support to SHGs beyond financial assistance, with a focus on digital marketing, packaging, branding and marketing skills to help their products reach wider markets.
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Turning Vacant Infrastructure Into Opportunity
Speaking about the initiative, CM Sawant said buildings of schools that have been closed can be made available to SHGs for setting up their units or businesses.
The initiative could provide SHGs with ready-to-use spaces while reducing the need for groups to invest heavily in securing separate premises. At the same time, it would give unused public infrastructure a new economic and social purpose.
For several SHGs involved in food processing, handicrafts, tailoring, local products, and other small-scale activities, access to an appropriate workspace can play an important role in expanding operations.
The government’s approach seeks to connect infrastructure support with skill development and market access, allowing SHGs to move beyond small-scale production and build sustainable enterprises.
From Production to Market
CM Sawant also highlighted the government’s efforts to strengthen the marketing capabilities of SHGs.
The support includes digital marketing and training in packaging, marketing, and related areas. These skills are increasingly important for small businesses as consumers discover and purchase products through online platforms and social media.
Better packaging and presentation can also help local products compete in wider markets while creating stronger recognition for products made by Goa’s SHGs.
Through digital marketing, SHGs can potentially showcase their products beyond their immediate local markets, opening opportunities to reach customers across Goa and outside the state.
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Strengthening Women-Led Enterprises
Self-Help Groups have emerged as an important platform for encouraging entrepreneurship at the grassroots level. By bringing members together, SHGs enable individuals to pool skills, resources, and efforts while developing income-generating activities.
The latest initiative adds another layer of support by making government infrastructure available for enterprise development.
For the government, the objective is not simply to provide a physical space but to create an ecosystem in which SHGs can produce, package, market and sell their products more effectively.
Making Government Assets Work for Communities
The proposal to use closed school buildings for SHG activities also reflects an effort to make better use of existing public assets.
Instead of allowing unused buildings to remain idle, they can potentially become centres of production, training and entrepreneurship. Such spaces could support local economic activity while benefiting communities in the areas where the buildings are located.
With infrastructure support combined with training and digital marketing assistance, the initiative could give Goa’s SHGs a stronger foundation to expand their businesses and create sustainable livelihood opportunities.
The move under CM Pramod Sawant’s leadership highlights the government’s broader focus on empowering grassroots entrepreneurs by connecting them with infrastructure, skills and markets.
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