<span style="color: #222222;">Union Minister of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Narendra Singh Tomar launched "The Saras Collection" on the Government e Marketplace (GeM) portal  in New Delhi today. The Saras Collection showcases daily utility products made by rural self-help groups (SHGs) and aims to provide SHGs in rural areas with market access to Central and State Government buyers. It is a unique initiative of GeM and the Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).<br />''<br />''Under this initiative, the SHG sellers will be able to list their products in 5 product categories, namely  handicrafts,  handloom and textiles,  office accessories, grocery and pantry and personal care and hygiene. The Rural Development Ministry said that in the first phase, 913 SHGs from 11 States have already registered as sellers and 442 products have been on-boarded. GeM will provide dashboards for functionaries at the national, state, district and block level to provide them real time information about the number of products uploaded by SHGs, and value and volume of orders received and fulfilled.<br />''<br />''In addition, Government buyers shall be sensitized through system generated messages and  s in the Marketplace about availability of SHG products on the portal. Potential buyers will be able to search, view, cart and procure such products through the stipulated modes of procurement. By providing SHGs with direct access to Government buyers, the Saras Collection will do away with intermediaries in the supply chain and will ensure better prices for SHGs and spurring employment opportunities at the local level.</span><br />