CM Bhagwant Mann called for increasing participation in politics by honoring women entrepreneurs.

Punjab News: Noting the important role of women in the glorious development journey of Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann today especially underlined the importance of women in administration, economy and society, saying that real women empowerment is possible only through education, proper representation and economic opportunities. During a function organized in Mohali today to honor women entrepreneurs who have succeeded with their skills at the grassroots level, the Chief Minister informed about the initiatives of the AAP government, comprehensive livelihood programs including reservation in jobs and financial assistance and appealed to women to reach decision-making positions and shape the future of the state.

Addressing the gathering after honoring the women entrepreneurs, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “It is very important that girls come forward and empower themselves through education. This is beneficial for the country because women who manage home and family better can also run the country’s system better. The state government is fully committed in this direction and no stone is being left.”

Women’s participation in politics is necessary

Encouraging women’s participation in politics, she said, “Girls should come forward and step into politics so that they can become active participants in decision making and bring about necessary changes in the society. Today, girls are ahead of boys in almost every field, but are still lagging behind in politics. This field has been considered the bastion of men for a long time, but now the time has come for women to make their mark here too. Women’s participation is necessary to strengthen the society based on equality and democracy at the grassroots level. Women should It should be ensured that they and their families use their vote wisely and responsibly, so that worthy leaders can be selected for the Assembly and Parliament.”

Changes in administration due to women appointments

Highlighting the broader vision of the state, the Chief Minister said, “This will help in making Punjab a progressive and prosperous state. It is a matter of pride that today girls are performing brilliantly in every field and continuous steps are being taken by the state government for the empowerment of women. The ‘AAP’ government has appointed many women to the posts of Deputy Commissioner and SSP, which is a big change. The maximum number of women have been appointed to these posts by ‘AAP’ compared to any other government.”

Global examples and inspiration

Citing global examples to inspire women, she said, “In China, every woman is engaged in some or the other production job. If they stop exporting, the world economy will be affected. Punjabi women should take inspiration from Mata Gujri Ji, Mai Bhago and other great personalities and scale heights in various fields. Our government has undertaken comprehensive reforms in the education sector to provide quality education across the state, especially to girls. Education transforms the lives of the weaker sections. “Plays an important role in bringing about, but it was completely ignored by the previous governments.”

Education will change the standard of living

Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that no free facility or concession can eliminate poverty or social evils. Education is the only way to break this cycle and improve living standards, and that is why our government is continuously working hard to strengthen it. Women should work hard and achieve excellence in every field with dedication. Full support is being provided by the government, but to keep pace with the times, it is equally important to learn new skills and constantly update yourself. He further said, “Today is a historic day for the women of Punjab, who have made their mark with their hard work and dedication. Women entrepreneurs should always get opportunities and we are proud to honor them. The development of any society is incomplete without the contribution of women.”

Honor to women entrepreneurs

Citing cultural and philosophical background, the Punjab Chief Minister said that women have always been given a respectable place in Sikh principles. Today, 100 best performing women entrepreneurs from 23 districts are being honored under the Punjab State Rural Livelihood Mission (PSRLM). Each will be given Rs 25,000, a certificate and a memento. Earlier, 11,700 women were honored in 117 assembly constituencies, he said, adding, “At the district level, 2,300 women were honored in 23 districts. A total of 58,303 self-help groups have been formed, with which about 5.89 lakh rural families are associated and financial assistance of Rs 147 crore has been given to strengthen them.”

Startups and employment opportunities

Referring to the initiatives in the field of entrepreneurship, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Under the Pahal Startup Project, more than 2,000 startups have been started, which have provided employment to 7,560 people and this is a big step towards economic strength. Apart from this, Sakhi Shakti Melas have been organized in 19 districts, which have generated an income of more than Rs 1 crore for women. Dairy cooperative societies are also being established with the help of Verka, in which “7,000 women will be involved and a target of supplying 85,000 liters of milk per day has been set. The target is to set up 1,000 such committees across the state.”

Maawan-Dhiyan Hospitality Scheme and Ration Kit

He further said, “Under the Maawan-Dhiyan Satkar Yojana, Rs 1,000 per month will be given to general category women and Rs 1,500 to Scheduled Caste women. This amount will be directly transferred to bank accounts and 97 percent of the women of Punjab will benefit from it. The government has allocated Rs 9,300 crore for this and registration will start from April 13. Under the ‘Meri Rasoi’ scheme, 40 lakh families will be given ration kits, in which 2 kg sugar, 2 kg pulses, 1 liter mustard oil, 200 grams turmeric and 1 kg salt have been allocated for this scheme, which will strengthen the empowerment and social security of women.

Special provisions in jobs and health

Referring to the structural initiatives related to empowerment, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “We have given 33 per cent reservation for women in government jobs and have ensured large participation of women in more than 65,000 jobs given by the government. Facilities like Aam Aadmi Clinic, cashless treatment up to Rs 10 lakh under Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana and free electricity to 90 per cent of the houses are in the interest of women. Apart from this, there are facilities for women in local bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions. 50 percent reservation is also being given to nutritious food through 27,314 Anganwadi centers and the recruitment process of thousands of workers is going on.

Free travel and self-reliance for women

The Punjab Chief Minister said, “Free travel is proving to be a big facility for women, especially school and college going girls. Women should become self-reliant and the government is creating new employment opportunities for them. Girls are no longer a weak section of the society, but are strong in every field and they should be confident about this.” Meanwhile, AAP Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia said, “Earlier such programs were limited only to women from rich families. For the first time, women from ordinary families are being honoured. This initiative will bring change in the lives of women through empowerment and inspire them to play an important role in nation building.” Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Tarunpreet Singh Saund and other dignitaries were also present on this occasion.