Shimla, Sept. 11 -- In a step towards making rural women self-reliant and economically independent, Himachal Pradesh's first women-run mineral water plant, "HIMJAL," has been launched in Gram Panchayat Thana of Chopal Development Block.

The plant will be run and managed by women associated with the Thana Women's Village Organisation under the Himachal Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission (HPSRLM).

The village organisation has fixed the price of a one-litre water bottle at Rs.11, lower than the prevailing market price.

HPSRLM provided a loan of Rs.13.80 lakh to the village organisation for the project. The amount has been used to set up the mineral water plant and ensure the necessary infrastructure. Operations, management, marketing,...