Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday ceremonially distributed revolving funds to women Self Help Groups (SHGs) and Area Level Federations (ALFs).
The funds were provided under Deendayal Antodaya Yojna National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM).
The programme was organised by Assam State Urban Livelihood Mission Society, Urban Development Department at Srimanta Sankardev Kalakshetra in Guwahati.
Sonowal called the women of the state to come forward and take advantage of various welfare schemes launched for them by the government.
The chief minister said women must take leading role in bringing social change.
The financial independence of women is very crucial to achieve development in the true sense, he said.
Informing that state’s farmers had been able to export their produce to international markets of Hong Kong, Singapore, London and Abu Dhabi, Sonowal urged the women SHGs to produce quality goods which would be able to capture world markets.
He appealed to the members of women SHGs to make the judicious use of the financial grants to bolster their empowerment.
Sonowal said the state government has given unprecedented importance to women empowerment.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government’s ambitious plan to make India a 5 trillion dollar economy by 2024 and plan to double farmers’ income by 2022, Sonowal requested the state’s women folks to help the government to achieve the target.
Terming the women as friend, philosopher, guide and reformer, Sonowol said the entire state looks towards the huge untapped power of women as a force multiplier to rural economy.
“If the vast resources of women at the rural areas are used effectively, rural economy of the state can be given a huge momentum,” Sonowal added.
He stated that there is no place for superstition in the twenty first century world. Sonowal underlined the role the women could play in getting the society rid of this social menace.
Sonowal said the women in our society would have to guide their children in the path of righteousness and inculcate moral and spiritual values amongst them and build their personality.
In Monday’s programme, 600 women SHGs were provided Rs 25,000 each as revolving fund, where central government’s contribution is Rs 10,000 and state government has contributed Rs 15,000.
Moreover, 3865 women SHGs under 90 urban local bodies were also provided Rs 10,000 each for a total amount of Rs 3 crore 86 lakh and Rs 50,000.
This amount was ceremonially transferred to the banks for disbursement by the chief minster pressing buttons on a laptop today.
Appointment letters to 70 community organisers under NRLM were also distributed by the chief minister in the programme.
Minister of state (Independent charge) for urban development department Pijus Hazarika also spoke on the occasion.