In an apparent attempt to boost public support in the coming Vidhan Sabha elections, Chief Minister Harish Rawat has been on a spree of inaugurations and foundation stone laying for various developmental works across the State for some days now.
The efforts are focused on impressing members of various segments including women, minority community, residents of slum settlements and the differently able among others.
On Monday, the CM announced that the State Government will set up a `50 lakh Chief Minister empowered livelihood scheme fund for women under which women will be provided training to enable them secure livelihood and become self reliant.
Chief minister said this at a programme in which he presented sewing machines and assistance money to women and school girls who had undergone training under the scheme. He also distributed cheques to beneficiaries under the Hamari Kanya Hamara Abhiman scheme on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, the CM expressed happiness stating that a considerable number of women had been helped in becoming self reliant with training received under the scheme.
The Government is not only conducting a livelihood training scheme for women but will now also link it to government purchase. It will be ascertained that every government department sets aside a certain percentage of their budget for the purchase of necessary items from women self help groups.
Earlier, on Sunday, the Chief Minister said that the residents of slum settlements will be presented the official documents regarding their home ownership rights in the near future.
Empathising with residents of slum settlements, chief minister Harish Rawat said that apart from provision of legal ownership rights to their homes, the Government will also set up a `400 crore fund for construction of roads, water and power supply, and sanitation in the slum settlements.
Speaking of the various welfare measures taken by the State government, the chief minister said that a health insurance scheme has been implemented for the financially weaker section of society with the limit for it being increased from `50,000 to `1.75 lakh.
Addressing the gathering organised by residents of Brahmapuri slum settlement to felicitate him for announcing ownership rights to the slum residents, Rawat averred that the welfare of the poor is among the topmost priority of the State Government.