Exhibition Extended Till May 17 with Support from Chief Minister; Total Turnover Reaches ₹32 Crore
Inauguration of 5 Lakh Houses Under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana Soon – Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Minister Jaykumar Gore
Mumbai, May 13, 2026 ( TGN ) :
Organised under UMED – Maharashtra State Rural Livelihood Mission, the ‘Mahalaxmi Saras 2026’ exhibition being held at BKC since May 2 is witnessing an overwhelming response from Mumbaikars. Conceptualised under the leadership of Rural Development Minister Jaykumar Gore, the exhibition has emerged as an international-standard platform showcasing the rich culture of rural Maharashtra, traditional cuisine, handicrafts, and women-led entrepreneurship.
With the objective of providing global recognition, sustainable market opportunities, and large-scale platforms for rural women entrepreneurs, this year’s exhibition has been curated in a more modern and attractive format under the guidance of Minister Jaykumar Gore. The initiative has received strong support and approval from Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, making the exhibition a world-class cultural and commercial platform.
Jewellery, saree collections, bamboo products, home décor items, and traditional handicrafts created by women self-help groups from across Maharashtra are witnessing excellent sales. Organic jaggery, papad, pickles, spices, chutneys, traditional sweets, and rural delicacies are also receiving tremendous appreciation from visitors. Some traditional homemade pickles prepared by women entrepreneurs have fetched prices of up to ₹1,000 per kilogram, while over 60 percent of products at several stalls were sold out within days.
*This year’s Mahalakshmi Saras Exhibition has generated a turnover of ₹32 crore so far, and it is expected to reach ₹40 crore or even more this year.* Earlier, the exhibition recorded a turnover of ₹16 crore in Nagpur and ₹22 crore in Vashi. Considering the enthusiastic response from Mumbaikars, the exhibition has been extended until May 17.
*‘UMED Mall’ for Sustainable Market Access*
To provide permanent market access for women entrepreneurs, the government is implementing the concept of ‘UMED Mall’ alongside the digital platform ‘UMED Mart’. Work on UMED Malls has already begun across 13 districts, with future expansion planned up to the taluka level. Construction work for 13 UMED Malls is underway this year, with a target to complete them within the next year. Each mall will have a minimum area of 20,000 square feet.
To ensure world-class execution of the exhibition, support from Delhi-based Mittal Company was taken, and the agency has worked efficiently in coordination with officials.
*Visitor Facilities*
The entire venue is fully air-conditioned and includes a dedicated AC food court, digital theme park, and home delivery facility introduced for the first time this year. Wheelchair facilities for specially-abled visitors and free bus services from Bandra East and Kurla West railway stations are also available. The exhibition witnesses a footfall of nearly 15,000 to 20,000 visitors during weekends.
*Successful Journey of the UMED Mission*
Since 2011, the UMED Mission has expanded successfully across 34 districts, 351 talukas, and 31,578 villages in Maharashtra. Around 66 lakh rural families are associated with the initiative, with more than 6.7 lakh self-help groups established. Over ₹50,150 crore loans have been disbursed to SHGs through banks, while community investment funds worth ₹4,640 crore have also been provided.
Inspired by the Prime Minister’s vision, Maharashtra has already created 50 lakh “Lakhpati Didis,” and under the guidance of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the state now aims to create 1 crore “Lakhpati Didis.” Initially, 4,200 products are available on the ‘UMED Mart’ platform, and efforts are underway to expand sales through Amazon and Flipkart.
*Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Rural*
Under Phase 1 of Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural), Maharashtra received a target of 13,11,699 houses between 2016-17 and 2022-23. All houses received approvals, and 12,84,229 houses have already been completed.
For 2024-25, Maharashtra received approvals for 6.37 lakh houses in September 2024, 13.29 lakh houses in December 2024, 45,770 houses under PM Janman, and an additional 10 lakh houses for 2025-26, taking the total sanctioned target to 30 lakh houses — the highest in the country.
Out of these, approvals have been granted for 27,86,853 houses, with 5,08,267 houses completed and 22,78,586 currently under construction.
In the past year alone, a record 5,08,267 houses have been completed. The inauguration ceremony of these 5 lakh houses will soon be held in the presence of Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. During the event, an announcement of nearly ₹10,000 crore funding for Maharashtra is also expected.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis continuously pursued the matter with the central government to secure the target of 30 lakh new houses for Maharashtra.
*Expressing gratitude towards citizens, Minister Jaykumar Gore said, “We sincerely thank Mumbaikars for their overwhelming response. Under the vision given by the Chief Minister, we are working towards creating one crore Lakhpati Didis and successfully building market opportunities for products created by women entrepreneurs.”*
