For the first time in India, women's self-help groups have started operating toll plazas in Madhya Pradesh. Agar Malwa, Ujjain, and Chhatarpur districts. The management and operation of the toll plazas located in the Chaachakhedi village on the Shajapur-Dopadha Nalkheda Road in Agar Malwa will be carried out by the Jyoti Women's Self-Help Group led by Smt. Raju Bai while the Kayatha Toll Plaza in Ujjain district will be managed by Varahamihir Self Help Group led by Kaushar Parveen.. The Pragati SHG will take over the management of Sanjaynagar Toll Plaza in Chhatarpur.
This historic initiative finds its root in the Cabinet decision according to which operation of toll plazas collecting up to Rs 2 crore will be given women's self-help groups with an objective to economically strengthen them. Women from self-help groups will get 30% of the toll collection.
In the presence of the Chief Minister, a MoU was signed between women's SHGs and the Madhya Pradesh Road Development Corporation. Chouhan said that operating a toll plaza is considered an act of courage. Women's self-help groups are taking responsibility of managing toll plazas itself is an example of women's empowerment. He expressed confidence that the SHG members will emerge successful in operating toll plazas efficiently. He said that women of Madhya Pradesh will achieve new milestones.
Encouraging women, Chouhan guided them to work with a zeal, self-confidence, and positivity to show that they can lead any challenging task. This initiative is a significant step towards women's empowerment, he added.
According to MoU, women's self-help groups managing toll plazas will receive 30% of the toll collection, and the remaining will go to the MP Road Development Corporation. Immediately after the Cabinet decision, members of the groups started receiving training from the Madhya Pradesh State Rural Livelihoods Mission. Rajesh Pandey, the manager of the toll plaza, gave them technical training on toll plaza management related aspects.
The MPRDC will provide essential services such as internet, canopy, electronic toll collection, and toilets facility. The divisional manager of MPRDC will guide and assist the women members of the group and support them whenever needed. The women's groups will solely collect tolls through their members and will not subcontract the work to any other agency. If the toll collection exceeds Rs.2 crore, MPRDC will resume the task. Life insurance of SHG members will also be ensured.
Toll collection revenue will be deposited into the joint bank account every day. Prior to toll collection, expenses will be incurred on other administrative arrangements at toll plazas, such as internet, electricity, and water. Initially, cleaning, record-keeping related works will be performed by the SHGs.
The Madhya Pradesh model of women's empowerment draws strength from self-help groups. More than 4 lakh 78 thousand self-help groups cover 57 lakh families. So far, 5.26 lakh self-help groups have been linked to credit of more than Rs. 6358 crore.
Through the Livelihood Mart portal, self-help groups have sold products worth more than Rs. 700 crore. Women in the SHGs are engaged in various activities such as operating Ready to Eat plants, purchasing crops at fair prices, uniform manufacturing, water cess collection, fly ash brick production, biscuit making, electricity bill collection, Didi Cafe, mask-sanitizer production, and more.
The annual turnover of seven Ready To Eat plants by these groups has exceeded Rs. 750 crore. Group members are operating Aajeevika Express passenger vehicles.
