(NTI, Dehradun): Celebration of Rakshabandhan, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami graced the state-level program under the ‘Mukhyamantri Sashakt Bahana Utsav Yojana’ and ‘Chief Minister Mahila Swayam Sahayata Samuhshaktikaran Yojana’ at his residence this past Friday. The event was a significant gesture toward the empowerment of women, where 10 self-help groups from four districts were honored. Each group received cheques amounting to Rs 25,000 as a revolving fund, Rs 75,000 as a CIF, and a substantial Rs 1.5 lakh as CCL.
The gathering also saw women from various parts of the state tying Raksha Sutras to the Chief Minister, wishing him a long and healthy life. In his Rakshabandhan greetings, Chief Minister Dhami emphasized the festival’s role in making us aware of our social responsibilities. He reiterated his government’s commitment to the empowerment and upliftment of women, particularly the “mother power.” He expressed his determination to ensure women’s participation in every aspect of the state’s development, highlighting that the state government provides 30% reservation for women in government jobs.
A noteworthy target set by the Chief Minister is to transform 1.5 lakh women into “Lakhpati Didis” by 2025. Although this target seemed ambitious initially, the Chief Minister proudly acknowledged that the hard work and dedication of the women have far surpassed expectations. He reminisced about the ‘Matri Shakti Vandan’ programs conducted in all districts starting from November 30 last year, where women not only participated in large numbers but also showcased their incredible products.
Chief Minister Dhami drew attention to a significant statement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Shri Kedarnath. The Prime Minister had predicted that the third decade of the 21st century would belong to Uttarakhand, and the Chief Minister believes that the state’s women are playing a pivotal role in realizing this prophecy. The women are not just fulfilling their own dreams but are also uplifting others by creating employment opportunities. The Chief Minister emphasized that his government is making continuous efforts to ensure the empowerment of women in Uttarakhand.
In 2022 alone, over Rs 84 crore was contributed under the ‘Mukhyamantri Swayam Sahayata Samuh Yojana,’ with about Rs 25 crores provided as interest reimbursement. More than 5 lakh women were connected to over 67 thousand self-help groups, with revolving funds distributed to over 53 thousand groups and collective investment policies to more than 37 thousand groups. The government has also established 24 growth centers for the packaging and marketing of products created by women’s groups, along with nano packaging units and 17 Saras centers across 13 districts. Additionally, Uttara outlets have been set up at various locations to further support these initiatives.
During his speech, Chief Minister Dhami announced the approval of Rs 2 crore 30 lakh under the Chief Minister’s Women Self Help Empowerment Scheme for various programs and workshops aimed at women empowerment. Furthermore, Rs 15 crore 40 thousand was approved for conducting business activities under cluster-level organizations, with Rs 25 lakh allocated for each Marketing Product, Development, and Quality Control Center established in Hawalbagh of Almora and Kotdwar of Pauri district. These centers, functioning as rural business incubators through RBI, aim to further the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative. Additionally, Rs 75 lakh was sanctioned for providing tablets to 500 e-book keepers in the first phase for digital MIS.
The Chief Minister also announced Rs 11 lakh 12 thousand per fair in matching grants for two Saras Melas to be organized at the national level within the state.
Rural Development Minister Ganesh Joshi expressed his gratitude to Chief Minister Dhami for launching the ‘Mukhyamantri Sashakt Bahana Utsav Yojana’ on the auspicious occasion of Rakshabandhan on August 24, 2023. He revealed that women have marketed Rs 318.98 lakh through 1428 stalls set up across 95 blocks under this scheme. Minister Joshi also highlighted the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative, which began in May 2022, with the goal of preparing 1.5 lakh women as Lakhpati Didis by 2025. To date, 1.05 lakh women have already been empowered under this initiative, marking a significant stride in the state’s journey toward women’s empowerment.
