Rural Development Secretary Aradhana Patnaik conducted an online conference on Wednesday with officials of 50 livelihood clusters from across the State and took stock of the development work.
Keeping in mind the possibility of Covid-19 spreading in the rural areas during the upcoming festive season, the Secretary urged the women of Sakhi Mandal to conduct mass movements and awareness programmes encouraging everyone to wear masks, follow social distancing norms and hygiene.
Patnaik urged the women to join the Didi Bari Scheme in order to take nutrition from door to door. The Secretary also inquired about other schemes like Phulo Jhano Aashirwad Yojna, seed distribution livelihood mission and other awareness programmes related to prevent the spread of Covid.
Patnail also urged the women to identify families who have not joined Sakhi Mandal and connect them on a priority basis. The officials also stated that Sakhi Mandals need to intensify awareness campaigns against social malpractices like witch system at the village level.
Asha Devi of Nandpur livelihood cluster, West Singhbhum informed that about 2415 women are associated with the cluster and 1800 are connected with different means of livelihood and efforts are being made to link 500 women to livelihood. She further stated that families of migrants who have returned during the lockdown have also been added to the Sakhi Mandal and 72 such families have been given loans for business.
Patnaik also administered an oath to the women to protect from Covid-19. JSLPS CEO Rajiv Kumar also addressed the women of the cluster organistation and spoke about ensuring livelihood benefits and also creating awareness about Covid- 19 in each family in the village.
Under the Rural Development Department, Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society has about 2.52 lakh Sakhi Mandals and about 790 livelihood clusters. A cluster organisation consists of about two to two and a half thousand families which is a higher institution of Sakhi Mandal. Over 31 lakh women across the State are associated with Sakhi Mandal.