Chief Minister Harish Rawat urged the industry to come forward and compliment State Government’s initiatives in creating livelihoods in the villages and improving the quality of life in the mountains. The CM said this after inaugurating the production unit of Mandakini Mahila Bunkar Samiti (MMBS) at Bhanigram village in Rudraprayag district on Tuesday.
The unit has been constructed with the support of CII Foundation, as part of its community based livelihood interventions under the Uttarakhand disaster rehabilitation initiative. The unit provides employment to 83 women of Bhanigram village in handloom, embroidery and making traditional items. The MMBS projects provides livelihood to 300 women from seven villages in and around Devli Bhanigram.
In his address, Rawat appreciated CII Foundation’s initiative stating that such projects also help in preventing migration. On the Char Dham Yatra, CM said the State Government is committed to ensuring a safe and comfortable yatra.
Elaborating on CII Foundation’s support to the MMBS project, Chairman CII Uttarakhand State Council, Prashant V Mahadik said that the project is modeled on Panchachuli Women Weavers of Kumaon. He added that once the Char Dham Yatra starts, the MMBS project will help showcase Uttarakhand’s handloom and handicrafts to the whole world.
The Director and Head CII Uttarakhand State Office Vibha Malhotra said that that industry is not the only agenda for CII, but the larger goal is to contribute in nation building process. She added that CII takes its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) role very seriously.
The minister for agriculture Harak Singh Rawat and Kedarnath MlA Shaila Rani Rawat also spoke on the occasion. Rudraprayag District Magistrate Raghav langer, MMBS chairperson of Kusumlata Bagwari and others were also present on the occasion.