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CM launches ‘Mukhyamantri Ekal Mahila Swarozgar Yojana’
my uttarakhand news Bureau
Dehradun, 10 Feb: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami launched the ‘Mukhyamantri Ekal Mahila Swarozgar Yojana’ at a programme held at his official residence, here, today. Speaking on the occasion, the CM asserted that this marks a significant step towards strengthening the financial independence and self-reliance of women across Uttarakhand. Implemented through the Department of Women Empowerment and Child Development, the scheme is aimed at providing a new direction to the struggle, courage and self-confidence of thousands of women in the state.
In the first phase of the scheme, an amount of around Rs 3.45 crores was transferred through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) as the first instalment to 484 beneficiaries from Bageshwar, Dehradun, Nainital, Pauri, Tehri and Udham Singh Nagar districts. The CM also released the departmental calendar on the occasion. He stated that the scheme would ensure economic empowerment along with dignity, security and self-respect for women, adding that no society or nation can progress without the active participation and empowerment of women, as the strengthening of a woman leads to the strengthening of the entire family and society.
Dhami shared that by the end of the month, an amount of around Rs 4 crores would also be transferred through DBT to an additional 540 women beneficiaries from the remaining seven districts. He said the scheme covers the widows, abandoned women, divorcees, the women living alone, acid attack survivors, victims of crime and members of the transgender community. With the launch of this initiative, he said, women power in the state would increasingly assume leadership roles.
The CM also referred to various initiatives taken under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for women’s welfare, including implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and Assemblies, the Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao campaign, Ujjwala Yojana, Lakhpati Didi Yojana and the abolition of the Triple Talaq practice. He said the state government remains committed to the welfare of women, with growing participation in education, health, entrepreneurship and employment through schemes such as the Uttarakhand State Rural Livelihood Mission, Sashakt Bahena Utsav Yojana and the Mukhyamantri Mahila Swayam Sahayata Samuh Sashaktikaran Yojana, while products made by women’s groups are being promoted under the Mukhyamantri Udyamshala Yojana.
The CM also shared that, at present, nearly five lakh women in the state are engaged in economic activities through more than 70,000 self-help groups (SHGs), supported by over 7,000 village organisations and 500 cluster organisations. Over 1.68 lakh women have already achieved the status of ‘Lakhpati Didis’. Dhami added that a strong ecosystem for processing, packaging and marketing has been developed and that Uttarakhand has implemented 30 per cent reservation for women in government services, besides becoming the first state to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to safeguard women’s rights and security.
Addressing the audience on this occasion, Cabinet Minister Rekha Arya said that under the leadership of Dhami, the government is working continuously to ensure women become job creators rather than dependants. Secretary Chandresh Yadav explained that, under the Mukhyamantri Ekal Mahila Swarozgar Yojana, projects up to Rs 2 lakhs are approved, with a subsidy of 75 percent or Rs 1.50 lakhs, whichever is higher, while the beneficiary contributes a mandatory 25 per cent share.
Among those present on this occasion were Director BL Rana, Vikram, Aarti, Mohit Chaudhary and other officials.
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