The Ministry of Food Processing Industries organised the “Aashirwad Ka Diya” programme in Thane, Maharashtra as part of its Seva Sankalp Abhiyan–Seva Diwas initiative. Union Minister Chirag Paswan attended the event to interact directly with farmers, women entrepreneurs, food processing units and others who have benefited from government support schemes. The programme aimed to highlight how food processing can create economic opportunities and self-reliance across rural and urban India.
What the programme covered
The event brought together multiple stakeholders from Maharashtra’s food processing ecosystem, including farmers, members of Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), women entrepreneurs, and food processing unit operators. The Ministry representatives present included Joint Secretary Preet Pal Singh alongside district-level officials and elected representatives.
The central feature of the programme was the lighting of a ceremonial diya, which was presented as a symbol representing hope, confidence and self-reliance. According to the Ministry, this diya symbolised the interconnected nature of India’s food processing value chain—farmers providing raw materials, FPOs creating collective strength, women converting skills into businesses, entrepreneurs undertaking processing and value addition, and industry providing technology and market access.
During the interaction, the Minister heard directly from beneficiaries of various Ministry schemes, including:
- Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME)
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)
- Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme
Beneficiaries shared how these initiatives had strengthened their enterprises, created employment and improved their economic conditions. The programme also emphasised India’s transformation from food production constraints to having a strong agricultural base capable of supporting significant value addition and processing activities.
What this means for you
If you are a farmer, woman entrepreneur or food processing business owner in Maharashtra or elsewhere, this event signals the Ministry’s continued focus on schemes that can help you formalise operations, access technology and reach markets. The emphasis on value addition suggests government support exists for those looking to move beyond basic agricultural production into processing and manufacturing. The programme demonstrates that beneficiaries of existing schemes are being heard and their feedback shapes future policy direction.