Governor inaugurates Aajivika Mahila Mahasammelan on Women�s Day

Ranchi: Governor Draupadi Murmu inaugurated Aajeevika Mahila Maha Sammelan (women�s mega conference) at Jawahar Stadium, Sector 3, on Wednesday on the occasion of International Women�s Day.

Greeting the women on the occasion of Women�s Day, Murmu said that the women in the Indian society have always been always strong but in the course of time, their strength had decreased.

�Now time has come when women should be made economically strong and government and society should work together to ensure this. She appealed to members of Aajeevika Mahila Maha Sammelan and SHGs to make people aware about the government schemes and be a partner in the nation�s development,� said Murmu.

Also present as a distinguished guest on the occasion was Chief Minister Raghubar Das. In his address, the CM said the government announced to will give mobile phones to 1 lakh women entrepreneurs of the state.

�It will help in digitalization and ensure the success of cashless Jharkhand campaign. These women entrepreneurs are backbone of our villages,� said the CM.

Das also launched the Rs. 600 crore Tejaswini Scheme and Rs. 1400 cr. Johar scheme. �Pregnant women will be given Rs. 6,000 maternity benefit. The subsidy of agriculture, fisheries, animal husbandry and horticulture will be transferred to the bank accounts of Sakhi Mandals.

The representation of women will be 33% in rural organizations including panchayat bodies. An urban haat (weekly market) is being established at the expense of Rs. 17 crore for providing market for the products of sakhi mandal,� said the CM.

�Girls between 14-24 year age groups will be strengthened with the help of World Bank under Tejaswini Yojana. They will be provided every possible aid and inspired to complete education.

Skill centres will be developed as per need. The groups of girls will be organized and one Tejaswini Club will be set up for every two aanganbari centres. After completing education and training, the beneficiaries will be transferred Rs. 10,000 promotion amount in their bank account.

Johar scheme focuses on strengthening rural economy. The government will provide funds for cottage and small scale industries under this scheme,� said the CM.

Das said that 3 lakh women have been given gas connection and gas stoves under Ujjawala scheme. In the next 3-4 years, all 23 lakh BPL families will be provided gas connection. The government wants to prepare 4.8 lakh women entrepreneurs and strengthen them. Newspapers and periodicals focusing on SHGs work and news will be published for the women and the members of sakhi mandals will be reporters.

The CM said that women play an important role in democracy and that they should be empowered. He said that there are instances where women have led the family, faced and defied problems. He said that the government is committed for their welfare.

Das said the tribal people will be developed and their migration will be stopped. Food processing plant has been established and Liberty Shoe Company has proposed for shoe manufacturing unit in the state. Agro based products will be promoted and exported. He said that the new Jharkhand is getting corruption free and developing state.

Rural Development Minister Nilkanth Singh Munda said that the 72,000 sakhi mandals have been formed in a year and it is expected to cross 80,000 by March.

State Women, Child Development and Welfare Minister Louis Marandi said the women should come forward to make Tejaswini scheme a huge success as it depends on them. It will prove to be a milestone.

Greeting the members of sakhi mandals, CS Rajbala Verma said that the prosperity of Jharkhand is linked with the development of the women. Sakhi mandals are being connected with the schemes of the govt. She said that the misconception about witchcraft must be eliminated.

Additional CS Amit Khare, RD Principal Secretary N. N. Sinha, Women, Child Development and Welfare Principal Secretary M. S. Bhatia, RD Special Sec Paritosh Upadhyay, DSOs, other officers and beneficiaries were present on this occasion.