Gujarat Plans Women-Run Amul Parlours in 18,000 Villages

Support at a Glance

Why It Matters: Owning the Last Step of the Value Chain

Gujarat’s women have long been the backbone of its dairy cooperatives, tending cattle and supplying milk. But the most visible and profitable link, selling to customers, has often been in other hands. Women-run parlours shift some of that value to the women themselves, giving them a steady retail business backed by one of India’s most trusted brands.

The scale is notable: 18,000 villages would cover a very large share of rural Gujarat. Execution will matter, from training and stock supply to ensuring parlours are viable in smaller villages.

The Market Access Gap

Officials’ own numbers show why such tie-ups matter. Around 8,500 self-help groups earned about ₹40 crore through 236 Saras Melas over five years, Minister Kunvarji Bavaliya said. That works out to roughly ₹47,000 per group over five years, highlighting how limited sales channels have been. A permanent parlour linked to Amul could provide far steadier income than periodic fairs.

Lakhpati Didis and Digital Skills

Over 8.5 lakh women in Gujarat have already become “Lakhpati Didis,” the CM said, referring to the national target of six crore such women by 2029. More than three lakh Sakhi Mandals are active in the state, according to Agriculture Minister Jitu Vaghani.

GLPC also signed MoUs with banks, departments and institutions to help market women’s products. NIFT and MICA, Ahmedabad, will guide women in digital entrepreneurship.

The Bottom Line

If rolled out well, Gujarat’s women-run Amul parlours could turn the state’s dairy story into a direct income story for rural women, one village counter at a time.

With inputs from IANS.