Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 19 Jun: In a significant move to bolster rural livelihoods and promote women’s entrepreneurship, the Uttarakhand government has issued detailed directives to prioritise Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in a wide range of government programmes and services. The instructions have been communicated through an official letter issued today by Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan.
Under the Uttarakhand State Rural Livelihood Mission, SHGs are actively implementing various initiatives in rural areas to foster entrepreneurship and enhance livelihoods. Women led groups are already engaged in sectors such as food processing and canteen management, consistently delivering quality services while maintaining food safety and hygiene standards.
To further empower these women and provide them with enhanced livelihood opportunities, the State Government has also announced that during visits by distinguished guests at the district level and on occasions involving the exchange of mementoes or tokens of appreciation, only local handicraft items produced by SHGs, or products under the ‘SHG One District One Product (ODOP)’ and ‘UMEED’ brands, shall be used as official gifts.
In addition, the government has announced that for catering and related requirements at all official and semi-official programmes, meetings, ceremonies, and events held at the state, district, and block levels, preference is to be given to the services of women SHGs. For coordination, the office of the District Project Director or Assistant Project Director, Rural Development Department, may be contacted. Besides this, the CS has also directed that for refreshments served during workshops, training sessions, meetings, and similar events at the state, district, and block levels, priority should be accorded to SHG-manufactured bakery products and locally produced nutritional items. He has asserted that SHGs are to be given preference for the operation of canteens and outlets within all departmental government premises and that the responsibility of preparing departmental uniforms and school uniforms in government departments and educational institutions should also be assigned to SHGs on a priority basis.
The letter also directs that the departments wishing to procure goods and services through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal are to ensure the inclusion of SHGs, as per the guidelines issued by the Finance Department. Bardhan has also directed all the authorities concerned to ensure strict compliance with the aforementioned decisions, both in letter and in spirit.
