Chhattisgarh Initiatives
The Mahatma Gandhi Rural Industrial Parks (RIPAs) program was launched by the Govt of Chhattisgarh on October 2nd, 2022. The goal of the program is to generate a large number of sustainable and scaled-up livelihoods in the state.
IMEDF is a Technical Support Agency in the program, which is being implemented by State Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) of Chhattisgarh. Under the program, 300 RIPAs are being established in various districts of the State in the first phase. 08 RIPAs in Bilaspur district are being provided technical support by IMEDF.
A RIPA will have work sheds, and production equipments. The idea is to promote entrepreneurship among local youth with the facilities provided in the RIPAs. RIPAs are based on the Gandhian idea of ‘production by the masses, not mass production’, to establish economic freedom in the villages of Chhattisgarh. The parks will engage in economic activities other than farm activities.