As many as 7117 women, who once sold locally made alcohol, have now left the work of selling liquor and have been benefitted under the Phulo Jhano Aashirvaad Yojna launched by Chief Minister Hemant Soren in September. On Thursday Rural Development department Secretary Aradhana Patnaik interacted with Navjivan Didis of Sakhi Mandal in all the districts through video conferencing and congratulated the women for leaving the work of selling alcohol and joining mainstream livelihood.
While reviewing the work being done under this scheme, Patnaik further urged the women of Sakhi Mandal to counsel the identified 16549 rural women associated with the sale of alcohol and connect them to more honourable means of livelihood as soon as possible. Patnaik stated that to ensure good income for women who have returned to the mainstream, a provision of two or more alternative sources of livelihood and interest- free loan of up to Rs 10,000 has also been made.
Talking to the women associated with the Phulo Jhano Aashirvaad Yojna, Patnaik appealed to the women to give up the sale of liquour in their villages and the adjoining areas. In this regard, for financial assistance there is a provision of interest- free loan from Sakhi Mandal and for livelihood empowerment, technical assistance is being provided by Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS).
Till December 2, as many as 342 rural women associated with the sale of locally made wine have been trained as Navjivan Didis who are proving to be an inspiration for other women in their areas and are also helping them get rid of the practice.
Shweta Hansda of Giridih has been involved in manufacturing and selling local wine for the last three- years and would earn Rs 2,000- 3,000 monthly. After taking a loan from Sakhi Mandal, Hansda opened a ration shop and has now been earning Rs 6,000 for the past two- months. Hansda feels that the Phulo Jhano Aashirvaad Yojna of the government has given her a new life.
Sharing her experience with the Secretary, Sanju Devi of Palamu said that she has been selling alcohol since 2017. About 12 other women from her village were also involved in this and now everyone has given up this work. With a loan Sanju bought a sewing machine and is now also involved in farming and animal husbandry. Under the Didi Bari Scheme, all 12 women are now benefitting through poultry, goat rearing, farming and other activities.
Patnaik also urged the women to fight against malnutrition and stress on cleanliness. The women were asked to focus on the Didi Bari Scheme so that the society can be malnutrition free, alcohol free and also witch tradition free. To end the harassment of women in the name of witch hunting, work is being started under the Garima Project by JSLPS under the Rural Development Department.
Rajiv Kumar, CEO JSLPS urged the Navjivan Didis to make the State free of local wine like handia and take advantage of rural development schemes for livelihood empowerment so that the economic situation can also be improved.