Significant successes have been achieved towards women's socio-economic empowerment in the State's rural areas through District Poverty Initiative Programme and the MP State Rural livelihoods Mission.So far, about 11,81,000 families have been connected with livelihood activities by forming over one lakh women's self-help groups. These groups are playing significant role in economic upliftment of their members by connecting them with various livelihoods activities. Annual income of about one lakh families connected with self-help groups has reached to Rs one lakh. Several women are now earning over Rs 10 thousand per month. Families earning Rs one lakh per annum are becoming source of inspiration for other families.
Panchayats, Rural Development and Social Justice Minister Gopal Bhargava informed that banks have provided Rs894 crore financial assistance to 81 thousand 884 self-help groups in the state for livelihood activities.Efforts of DPIP and MP State Rural livelihoods Mission to alleviating poverty of rural people are meeting with success. Through help of SHGs, rural women are not only changing fortunes of their families, but are also giving a new direction to society.Coming out of confines of four walls, now the rural women are enthusiastically participating in livelihoods activities and social service.In deference to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's wish to make agriculture profitable, modern farming methods are being promoted with the help of self-help groups.
This has helped in increasing agriculture production along with increase in beneficiary families' income. Through SHGs, 39 thousand beneficiary families have been connected with commercial production of vegetables.As many as 141 Aajeevika Fresh outlets are being operated for sale of vegetables and food grains produced by the groups in the state. Through Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Yojana, women beneficiaries are being imparted training in modern methods and organic farming.About 33 thousand 700 beneficiaries are producing paddy through SRI Method.Paddy production has increased three fold through scientific farming.
Bhargava informed that 7738 village organisations have also been formed in the state. Over 52 thousand 500 self-help groups have become members of these organisations. Along with earning livelihood, self-help groups are also contributing in transforming the country and state.These groups are actively participating in Swachchhata Abhiyan, construction of toilets, health improvement, women's literacy, leadership development, de-addiction, prevention of child marriages and female foeticide, environmental conservation and piped water schemes.