Several schemes are being run to reduce drudgery of women in the hill areas. lPG cylinders are being provided at subsidised rates.
Fodder banks have been established. A comprehensive action plan is needed to extend the schemes to all 7969 Gram Panchayats through a coordinated effort of the Forest, Rural Development and Water Supply Departments. Instructions to this effect were issued by the Chief Secretary at the General Meeting of the ‘Uttarakhand Mahila evam Bal Vikas Samiti’ held at the Secretariat on Friday.
Kumar said that the Chief Ministers Women’s livelihood Scheme should also be implemented soon. Under this women are to be trained in 15 vocational trades so that they can be self-employed. Seed money of Rs 50,000 will also be provided to them. They would also be provided Rs 1000 per month as stipend during the training.
It was also informed during the meeting that 1200 lPG cylinders were being provided to each disaster hit district. In other districts, women of the BPl category were being given lPG cylinders with 40 percent subsidy. In the Kedar Valley, 300 women are being provided training in weaving, bee-keeping and organic farming. In 68 development blocks, the Women’s livelihood Scheme is being conducted, with the help of 58 voluntary organisations. Under the National Women Empowerment Mission, a Women’s Resources Centre has been established. The Union Government’s ‘Poorna Shakti Kendra’ scheme is being run as a pilot project in the Pithorgarh and Haridwar districts. Under this, the sex ratio of children will be improved. The Nirbhaya Yojana is also being conducted to provide security and protection to women.
Present at the meeting were Principal Secretary, Women Empowerment, Radha Raturi, Additional Secretary, Finance, MC Joshi, Additional Secretary, Women Empowerment, Nidhimani Tripathi, and other officials.