CM celebrates Rakhi with women beneficiaries
By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 16 Aug: In the context of the coming Raksha Bandhan, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami participated in a state level programme under ‘Mukhyamantri Sashakt Behnaa Utsav Yojana’ and Chief Minister Mahila Swayam Sahayata Samuhshaktikaran Yojana’ at his official residence here today. On this occasion, the CM felicitated 10 self-help groups from four districts by giving them cheques of Rs 25,000 each as revolving fund, Rs 75,000 each as CIF and Rs 1. 50 lakhs as CCL. On this occasion, women from different areas of the state also tied Rakhis to the Chief Minister and wished him a long life.
On this occasion, Dhami, while wishing everyone a Happy Raksha Bandhan, said that this festival also makes the people aware of their social duties. He asserted that the BJP Government is committed to the uplift and welfare of women. The Chief Minister said that the government’s effort is to ensure the participation of women at every step in the development of the state. The state government is providing 30 percent reservation to women in government jobs.
He said, “We have set a target to make 1.5 lakh sisters Lakhpati Didi by 2025. When this target was fixed, it seemed like a big target but the women by their active interest and participation have left the target far behind with their hard work and dedication.” He said that from 30 November, last year, he conducted ‘Matri Shakti Vandan’ programmes for women in all the districts. A large number of women attended these programmes and many unique products were marketed through this.
Dhami asserted that PM Narendra Modi had said in Kedarnath that the third decade of the 21st century will belong to Uttarakhand, adding that the women of the state are playing an important role in fulfilling it. Today, the women are getting the opportunity to realise their dreams. They are also empowering other women by providing them employment. The Chief Minister said that the government is constantly striving to ensure empowerment of women in Uttarakhand. In 2022, under the ‘Mukhyamantri Swayam Sahayata Samuh Yojana’, an amount of more than Rs 84 crores was contributed, about Rs 25 crore was given as interest reimbursement, more than 5 lakh women were added to more than 67 thousand self-help groups (SHGs). Revolving fund has been given to more than 53,000 SHGs, collective investment policy has also been given to more than 37,000 groups. The Chief Minister said that after making the products by the women’s group, 24 growth centres have been established for their packaging and marketing. Nano packaging units and 17 Saras centres are being operated in 13 districts. Apart from this, Uttara outlets have also been established at various places.
The Chief Minister said that last year when the Prime Minister came to participate in the Global Investors Summit in Dehradun, he inaugurated the state’s ‘House of Himalayas Brand’. Today the products of this brand are in high demand. Soon a CEO is being appointed. He said that special attention is being paid to the packaging and marketing of the products.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister approved an amount of Rs 2.30 crores under the Chief Minister’s Women Self Help Empowerment Scheme for various programmes and workshops to be held in the districts for the purpose of women empowerment. He also announced approval of Rs 15.40 crores for conducting business activities of women under the cluster level organisation. He further announced approval of an amount of Rs 25 lakhs for each centre established in Hawalbagh of Almora and Kotdwar of Pauri district for the Marketing Products, Development and Quality Control Centres through RBI, which are rural business incubators, with the aim of making more Lakhpati Didis. He also announced approval of Rs 75 lakhs for providing tablets to 500 e-book keepers of 140 model clusters in the first phase for e-book keepers for digital MIS.
Rural Development Minister Ganesh Joshi said that in order to provide market to the products manufactured by women groups, the Chief Minister has started the ‘Mukhyamantri Sashakt Behnaa Utsav Yojana’ from Rakshabandhan festival on 24 August, 2023. Expressing his gratitude to the Chief Minister, he said that under the scheme, women have till date marketed products worth Rs 3.19 crores by setting up 1428 stalls in 95 blocks. He said that with the inspiration of the Chief Minister, the Lakhpati Didi initiative was started in the state in May 2022. In which 1.50 lakh didis will be prepared as Lakhpati Didi by the year 2025.
On this occasion, Rajya Sabha MP Naresh Bansal, MLAs Vinod Chamoli, Savita Kapoor, Khajan Das, Secretary Radhika Jha, State President of BJP Mahila Morcha Asha Nautiyal, National Vice President of BJYM Neha Joshi were among those present.
