Chief Minister Raman Singh on Sunday announced subsidy up to Rs 50,000 on purchase of e-rickshaw in state, through lbaour Department.
In his monthly radio programme, Raman Ke Goth aired from Raipur centre of Akashwani, Singh informed listeners, “I want to disclose a good news that earlier there was no provision for subsidy on e-rickshaw, only few districts had subsidy facility under DMF but now we have made arrangements to provide subsidy of Rs 50 thousand i.e. one-third of the total price of the e-rickshaw,’’.
Singh also talked about Bihaan Project being conducted for women empowerment in state. He said, “earlier Swarna Jayanti Rozgar Yojana was conducted for livelihood and self-employment in which participation of men and women were equal. We have named this scheme as 'Bihaan', which means 'morning'. This scheme has been entirely dedicated to women. Under this scheme, women self-help groups are constituted,’’. He added women have busted all the myths, which used to hold them back from doing positive work.
Singh further said till date, more than 1.24 lakh women self-help groups have been constituted in state under State Rural livelihood Mission. Chhattisgarh government has decided to provide easy and low-interest loans to women self-help groups. As a result of which, loans worth Rs 1,151 crore has been provided to 90,000 self-help groups in last five years.
Announcing the subsidy of Rs 50,000 through labour Department on purchase of e-rickshaw, Chief Minister said that this will prove beneficial in future. He appreciated the employment-oriented and income-generating activities of women-self-help groups, saying that rice being produced through organic farming has in demand even in metros. The groups which were earlier manufacturing candles are now manufacturing lED bulbs.
He stated that women who used to manufacture clay pots are now managing storage of fruits and vegetables in cold storage. He remarked that women self help groups have got national-level acknowledgement for their works in solid waste management and now their system is being implemented in urban bodies. The waste is collected, processed and converted into fertilizers, which is later sold for income. Sisters of 44 blocks in 20 districts of the state have become 'bank sakhi'. This is one such arrangement, under which members of self-help groups go door-to-door to provide bank facility.
Singh said, “Chhattisgarh has always been known as 'Shakti Kendra' of goddesses, but now this inspiration is spreading across the state as groups of empowered women in each and every village.