Delighted with the success of the developmental activities being undertaken by the Jharkhand government on two major fronts - linking women with livelihood mission projects and promoting Skill India programme, Union Rural Development Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that he is confident now that the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of eradicating poverty from across the country by 2022 will be fulfilled.
“Our fight is against poverty. The Self Help Groups (SHGs) and the Sakhi Mandals will actually aid in creating ‘New India’. Rural women associated with the SHGs are giving direction to several others in the implementation of schemes besides, reviving several trades that hold significance in economic growth,” added Tomar.
Tomar was speaking on the occasion of ‘Aajeevika Evam Kaushal Vikash Mela’ organized on Saturday at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium – Dhurwa as a concluding event of the month-long Gram Swaraj Abhiyan.
The Gram Swaraj Abhiyan commenced on April 14 touching upon various facets of rural life like local governance, energy, health and hygiene while promoting seven major schemes of the Central Government. Tomar further added, “Jharkhand has set an example for the other states in implementing different central government schemes in a stipulated time. Implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, PM Awaas Yojana, Advance Planning of MNREGA scheme are the few examples.”
The Minister, on the occasion, further stated that the women associated with SHGs do return the loan amount on time and are not like other willful defaulters; hence banks too are lending them money for initiating new ventures. Tomar promised to support the State in all its major projects.
Covering 24 districts of the State nearly 250 blocks were covered under Gram Swaraj Abhiyaan. According to the records, in as many as 15,000 villages over 1,32,342 SHGs are working where around 16 lakh females are associated. There are approximately 7229 village organizations that are transforming the condition of villagers and villages in Jharkhand.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Raghubar Das, on the occasion, said that women power is required to create difference and bring change. Remembering PM Narendra Modi’s idea of involving major chunk of population – females in different trades, the CM said, “Women are already leading from the front in the agro and animal rearing sectors. Here in Jharkhand, constant efforts are being put to realise the dream of the PM of making women more powerful.”
The CM further said that the State government has taken up three major programmes to link sufficient number of womenfolk with livelihood mission programme which is an apt example of ‘EK Bharat Shreshtha Bharat for uniform growth.
“From each BPl family at least one woman will be linked with the livelihood mission programme. The survey of BPl families has already begun. Also, establishment of processing plants (Honey and Cocoon production), including attempts of establishing a single platform for immediate financial assistance by bringing in banks, microfinance companies and other financial institutions at a common platform on the lines of single window system for industries is on the cards,” the CM said.
The CM urged Tomar to provide assistance by lending 2200 bee-keeping boxes for promoting bee-keeping business. Furthermore, State’s Rural Development Minister Neelkanth Singh Munda assured to form two lakh Sakhi Mandals by the next year to generate employment.
To mark the occasion, 13 women achievers who have not just battled poverty but have done exemplary work at the grass root level were felicitated by the dignitaries.
Also, awards were given to 10 best village organisations maintained and run by women for promoting Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana (DAY)- National Rural livelihood Mission (NRlM), three best Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs) and three best performing States under Skill Development project. The dignitaries on the occasion launched 17 RSETIs and unveiled three publications unfolding the journey, struggle and achievement of SHG women.
Around 25,000 women gathered at this national event to witness and share the idea of expanding SHGs. The main purpose of Aajeevika Mela was to bring together and focus ahead on livelihood security for rural communities through programmes like DAY-NRlM, RSETIs, Skill Development programme, Deendayal Upadhyay Gramin Kaushal Yojana (DDU-GKY).
A joint initiative of Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Government of Jharkhand saw the participation of Chief Secretary of Jharkhand – Sudhir Tripathy, Secretary, Union Ministry of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Amarjeet Sinha, Principal Secretary, Department of Rural Development, Avinash Kumar and other senior officials.