Keshav Prasad Maurya visited the exhibition of women of self-help groups of UP in Delhi, also appreciated their work.

Before the start of the National Rural Development Program organized in the C. Subramaniam Auditorium located in the Pusa campus, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Maurya visited the exhibition put up by the sisters of self-help groups from across the country in the dignified presence of Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Praising the handicrafts, food processed products, traditional artefacts, organic products and other self-employment based products prepared by the women of different states, he said that today self-help groups have become a powerful medium of women empowerment along with providing new energy to the rural economy. During the conference, wide and meaningful discussions were held on various important topics related to rural development. In this, experts and policy makers shared their views on topics like rural livelihood mission, empowerment of self-help groups, digital innovation, skill development, rural infrastructure, employment generation, sustainable development and further strengthening the rural economy. Shri Maurya said that the Uttar Pradesh government, under the guidance of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath, is continuously working to expand basic facilities in villages, build rural connectivity, empower self-help groups, generate employment and improve the standard of living of the poor and deprived sections, while giving top priority to rural development. He expressed confidence that such national conferences become effective platforms for exchange of best practices among states and provide a new direction to rural development. On this occasion, Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Dr. Chandra Shekhar Pemmasani, Union Minister of State for Rural Development Kamlesh Paswan, Rural Development Ministers of various states, senior officers, policy experts, representatives of self-help groups and other distinguished guests were present.