State Government is working for the welfare and safety of girls and women: CM
Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma today ceremonially launched the distribution of cheques to 31,224 members of women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under the Chief Minister’s Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan in Dhekiajuli constituency, covering 29,523 women from rural areas and 1,701 from urban areas.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said Assam has around 4 lakh SHGs with 40 lakh women members. Of these, nearly 8.5 lakh women already earn ₹1 lakh or more annually. Many of these ‘Lakhpati Baideus’ have even grown into bigger entrepreneurs, earning up to ₹10 lakh every year , thereby rising to the level of ‘Maha Lakhpati Baideu’.
Highlighting the government’s efforts, Dr. Sarma said that earlier women faced problems because of high-interest loans from microfinance institutions. But with the government’s revolving fund of ₹25,000, SHGs are now able to carry out productive activities smoothly. Many groups have also successfully taken bank loans, with 99% repayment. With proper support, the remaining 32 lakh SHG women also can become ‘Lakhpati Baideus’, the CM said.
The CM urged the beneficiaries to use the government’s financial assistance for income-generating activities like dairy, beekeeping, making traditional food items or to strengthen family enterprises. He suggested that every 10 SHG members could pool their funds in the group account and take additional loans from banks for productive purposes. Alternatively, women could use the funds individually for self-employment or in their family businesses.
He said if women invest the ₹10,000 seed capital productively this year, they will become eligible for ₹25,000 next year with bank support and subsequently ₹50,000 in the next phase. The Chief Minister further stated that implementing this scheme will require an expenditure of ₹4,000 crore for providing ₹10,000 seed capital to each woman. Next year, providing ₹25,000 will involve ₹10,000 crore, while at the ₹50,000 stage, the government will spend ₹25,000 crore.
Dr. Sarma also underlined that over the past four-and-a-half years, the Assam Government has been continuously working for the development and safety of girls and women. During this period, steps have been taken to end child marriage, along with the introduction of several schemes such as Nijut Moina. He further announced that on 17th September, which marks the birthday of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, women beneficiaries under Orunodoi 3.0 will start receiving ₹1,250 monthly assistance. Each Orunodoi family will also get an additional subsidy of ₹250 for purchasing LPG cylinders. From 1st November, ration card holders will receive pulses, sugar and salt at subsidised rates along with rice.
Minister for Health & Family Welfare Ashok Singhal, MP Ranjit Dutta, MLAs Ganesh Limbu and Prithviraj Rabha, Additional Chief Secretary of Panchayat & Rural Development Department B. Kalyan Chakravarty, District Commissioner Ananda Kumar Das, Mission Director of Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission Kuntal Moni Sharma Bordoloi along with several senior officials and dignitaries were present in the programme.
