Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 24 Feb: An annual action plan amounting to Rs 677.75 crore for the financial year 2026–27 was approved at a meeting of the High-Powered and Steering Committee of the Rural Enterprise Acceleration Project (REAP) chaired by Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan here today.
During the meeting, Secretary DS Gabriel presented the progress and compliance report against the Annual Action Plan for the year 2025–26, along with the proposed annual action plan and budget for the financial year 2026–27. After detailed deliberations, the committee accorded approval to the proposed outlay of Rs 677.75 crores for the coming financial year.
The approved action plan provides financial and administrative sanction for programmes aimed at promoting self-employment, livelihood enhancement, income generation activities, development of local resources and encouragement of agriculture and allied activities. The focus under REAP remains on strengthening rural families economically by supporting micro-enterprises and community-based initiatives.
Setting an ambitious target for the year 2026–27, CS Anand Bardhan directed that 2.5 lakh women be enabled to achieve the status of ‘Lakhpati Didi’. He emphasised that women beneficiaries associated with the REAP project should also be converged with other departmental as well as Central and State government schemes. He instructed that the consolidated details of all such schemes be compiled to ensure better coordination and maximum benefit to eligible beneficiaries.
The CS also made it clear that effective convergence with various schemes must be ensured for the economic and social empowerment of beneficiaries. He directed the officials to undertake a thorough groundwork and prepare a concrete strategy for sustainably uplifting rural households, with a special emphasis on long-term income security and reduction of distress migration.
Bardhan further directed that the women self-help groups engaged in similar economic activities be identified and provided targeted support to enhance their livelihood and self-employment opportunities. In view of the declaration of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, he directed that a comprehensive strategy be prepared under the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative to extend special financial, technical, capital and institutional support to women. Coordination meetings with self-help groups and stakeholders are to be organised in all districts to understand their concerns and prepare solution-oriented action plans.
The CS directed the officials to identify growth centres in the rural areas which are presently under-utilised. He stated that a concrete plan should be prepared to make effective use of such centres through the ‘House of Himalaya’ initiative so that local products and enterprises receive enhanced market support and branding.
It may be noted here that the Rural Enterprise Acceleration Project (Gramotthan or REAP) is being implemented across all the districts of the state with the objective of strengthening rural livelihoods and checking migration. Under the project, financial assistance and training are provided for micro-enterprises in agriculture, non-agriculture and food processing sectors. In the backdrop of 2026 being observed as the International Year of the Woman Farmer, special emphasis is being laid on women’s empowerment during the current financial year.
Among those present at the meeting were Additional Secretaries Girdhari Singh Rawat, Navneet Pandey, Jharna Kamthan and other related officials.
