Ranchi, August 1 (HS). How sensitive Chief Minister Hemant Soren is towards the upliftment of rural women and their economic self-reliance can be gauged from the fact that the credit linkage given to Sakhi Mandal in the 9 years before 2019 was 10 times more than the credit linkage given in the last four and a half years. Along with this, an increase was also registered in the number of Sakhi Mandals. From 2013 to 2019, an amount of Rs 1,114 crore was given to SHGs under credit linkage, while after 2019, an amount of Rs 10,111 crore was given to the women of Sakhi Mandal for their empowerment till 30 June 2024. The number of Sakhi Mandals increased from 2.45 lakh from 2013 to 2019 to 2.88 lakh by 30 June 2024.
The process of connecting with livelihood continues
To empower rural women and economy, 26 lakh families of the state have been linked with strong means of livelihood through National Rural Livelihood Mission. Rural families are being covered with livelihoods based on agriculture, animal husbandry, forest produce, egg production, organic farming. Under the state-sponsored Johar Project, 3900 producer groups and 21 producer companies were formed and operated in 3816 villages of 68 blocks of 17 districts. Under this, the income of about 2.25 lakh families of the state increased.
benefits from forest produce
Through the Women Farmer Empowerment Project, 3.0 lakh families of the state have been linked to lac, silk, medicinal plant cultivation, tamarind, agriculture and animal husbandry. Under the state-sponsored Jharkhand Microdrip Irrigation Project, advanced farming is being done by linking about 31861 farmers with drip irrigation technology. The target is to link 30 thousand women farmers under this project.
Women becoming proficient in technology
In the state, about 80,000 community cadres, including Banking Correspondent Sakhi, Pashu Sakhi, Krishi Sakhi, Vanopaj Mitra, Ajeevika Silk Mitra, CRP, have been trained and engaged in the implementation and expansion of the project. These women have been equipped with modern communication technology.