Dehradun. Under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), a common facility center has been started for about 2500 women associated with self-help groups in Shankarpur of Sahaspur development block. Cabinet Minister Bharat Singh Chaudhary inaugurated the center on Tuesday. This center has been developed in coordination with concerned departments including District Industries Centre, National Rural Livelihood Mission and Khadi Village Industries.
Cabinet Minister Bharat Singh Chaudhary said that the old and unused building of Khadi Village Industries was not in use for a long time. On the initiative of the Chief Development Officer, it has been revived and developed as a production unit through convergence of various departments. Here women associated with the Cluster Level Federation are preparing high quality bags.
The model will be implemented in other districts also
The minister said that the state government is continuously working to make women financially self-reliant and take forward the 'Lakhpati Didi' campaign. This model of Shankarpur will not be limited to Dehradun only. Departmental officers of other districts of the state will be motivated to study the center and establish production units on similar lines.
He said that under the Rural Development Department, about 5.25 lakh women are associated with self-help groups in the state. Of these, more than three lakh women have so far become 'Lakhpati Didi'. Work is also being done in a planned manner to increase the income of the remaining women.
Step from 'Lakhpati Didi' to 'Crorepati Didi'
The Cabinet Minister said that many 'Lakhpati Didis' of the state are now moving towards becoming 'Krorapati Didis'. An MoU has been signed with IIM Kashipur to provide technical knowledge, entrepreneurship development and training to women groups as per market needs. IIM Kashipur will provide technical support to the women's groups in the form of an incubation centre, while necessary financial assistance will be provided by the government.
Uniforms of school and soldiers will be ready with bags
The Minister said that in future the activities of the Common Facility Center will not be limited to only bag manufacturing. Along with preparing uniforms for school children through Cluster Level Federation, work will also be done on the possibilities of making uniforms for police, home guards and PRD personnel. He directed the officials to set up another production unit on the same model.
The center was closed for many years
Chief Development Officer Dehradun Abhinav Shah said that the Common Facility Center located at Sahaspur was not operating for many years. It was decided to develop an integrated production unit here by providing machines to the cluster level federation of local self-help groups. He said that in accordance with the Chief Minister's vision of women empowerment and self-employment, the district administration has revived the center with the help of convergence of concerned departments and district planning.
After signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the local Cluster Level Federation, the unit has been transferred to it. Women have started manufacturing products at the centre. The district administration will provide necessary support to women for training, production, packaging and connecting them to the market.
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