PRAYAGRAJ, June 15 -- In a new push for rural digital entrepreneurship, women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) in Prayagraj are set to be engaged as "Safar Sakhis" to provide travel-related services in rural areas. This initiative follows a recent directive from the Centre, prompting district authorities to begin preparations for its implementation. Acting on the directions of chief development officer (CDO) Harshika Singh, officials have started identifying digitally skilled SHG women who can take up the responsibility. District mission manager for NRLM, Amit Shukla, confirmed the development, noting that the district administration has initiated the groundwork for the project in line with the Centre's guidelines. "This will be the first time SHG women in the district will be entrusted with online travel booking services, creating a new avenue for digital entrepreneurship and income generation," Shukla said. Under the proposed model, the women will function as village-level travel facilitators, offering railway, bus, and airline ticket booking services. They will also assist residents with hotel reservations, enabling villagers to plan their journeys without visiting urban centres for such facilities. To support the initiative, the "Safar Sakhis" will be provided with computers or laptops along with internet connectivity at their village-level centres. They will also be linked with hotels and other travel service providers to ensure seamless booking services. Officials stated that the women will earn commissions on every ticket and booking made, creating an additional source of income for SHG members while making travel-related services more accessible in rural areas....