By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 18 Dec: Rural Enterprise Acceleration Project (REAP) under the Uttarakhand Gramya Vikas Samiti inaugurated a new printing press unit at Sangam Cluster Level Federation (CLF) in Vikasnagar block, Dehradun, today.
The ceremony was led by District Project Director of DRDA, Vikram Singh, REAP District Project Manager Kailash Chandra Bhatt, and CLF President Pushpa Tyagi. Under the REAP initiative, it aims to empower women by establishing agricultural and non-agricultural enterprises by providing financial support for new ventures.
Due to the lack of sufficient land for farming, many women from the Sangam CLF have shown interest in non-agricultural enterprises. The community printing press unit, set up with their collective efforts, will enable the women to undertake card printing and similar services. With REAP’s support, a printing press unit worth Rs 10 lakh was established, including a Rs 6 lakh grant from REAP, a Rs 3 lakh bank loan, and Rs 1 lakh contributed by the CLF. This new unit is expected to benefit 1,377 women from 131 self-help groups within 20 village organisations in the Sangam CLF and provide local employment opportunities.
During the event, the CLF President mentioned that currently REAP has provided Rs 23.10 lakh in interest-free loans to 66 families under the Ultra Poor Package, aiding women in improving their livelihoods in their CLF. Additionally, 18 families received Rs 5.85 lakh for establishing various small enterprises. Skill development training has been provided to 60 individuals within the cluster, and a total of Rs 13.77 lakh has been contributed by REAP for women’s initiatives. These efforts have empowered women to engage in personal and community-level businesses, enhancing their livelihoods.
Block Development Officer, Vikasnagar, Shakti Prasad Bhatt, encouraged the women to expand their printing services to include flex and banner printing. REAP District Project Manager Kailash Chandra Bhatt shared that over 2,000 women in Dehradun district have been supported in establishing individual enterprises, contributing to their self-reliance and economic stability. He also encouraged mutual cooperation among women to buy and sell each other’s products, ensuring easy market access and business growth.
The attendees, including Vikram Singh, Kailash Chandra Bhatt, Shakti Prasad Bhatt, CLF President Pushpa Tyagi, CLF Secretary Meenu Pun, CLF Treasurer Rajni Dhiman, and other district and block-level officials from REAP and NRLM, expressed their support and provided guidance for the women entrepreneurs. The women requested Vikram Singh for assistance in securing government orders for their printing press. He assured them of his best efforts and provided direction for their business growth and development.
