Patna / Begusarai, May 10 (Hindustan Times). Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the mantra to make rural India self-reliant by making the Livelihood Mission a national mission. Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Livelihood Mission, which has become an initiative to eradicate poverty by creating opportunities, has become a source of prosperity for crores of rural families.
The National Livelihood Mission has given a new identity and direction to women power. Along with this, trained, motivated, guided women are moving forward on a new path of self-reliance through small groups. In the National Rural Livelihoods Mission launched in 2011, below poverty line (BPL) families were kept under the purview of the target group.
In 2014, when the government formed under the leadership of Narendra Modi assessed the scheme, its scope was also increased. Renamed Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana to National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). Now all households with at least one form of deprivation as per the Socio Economic and Caste Census 2011 database have been included in the target group of the mission.
Due to this, the number of women self-help groups increased rapidly. Since then, this mission, which is fulfilling its name and goal, is bringing revolutionary changes in the society. Due to economic progress, women and their families have started coming out of poverty, their quality of life is also improving. The cornerstone of the mission is community based and rural women are at its core.
The mission has provided a great platform for women empowerment. Looking at its progress from 2011 to 2014, five lakh self-help groups were formed and only 50-52 lakh families were linked to the self-help groups. But since 2014, there has been a radical change in it. In the last nine years, the central government has helped in every way to empower the self-help groups.
Prime Minister’s vision and target for this scheme is that at least one woman from every rural household should join this campaign. For this, Union Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh is taking initiative. Due to which the number of members has crossed 9.09 crore till May 9, 2023. Bank linkage has become 6.57 lakh crore, NPA is 1.85 percent. The number of Lakhpati Didi has increased to 1.24 crore and this figure is increasing rapidly every day.
If we talk about Begusarai, three lakh 23 thousand 664 women by joining agriculture, farming and business established many records by forming more than 27 thousand self-help groups. He has saved Rs 110 crore. This has changed the world of these women. These more than three lakh women chose the field according to their interest in agriculture and non-agriculture sector to develop their capabilities.
Bearing the brunt of unemployment, women sitting at home as housewives are making themselves self-reliant. At the same time, they are also providing employment to the people. By forming self-help groups in agriculture and non-agriculture sector, along with beekeeping, goat rearing, cow rearing, she is operating Didi’s kitchen, which is proving to be very profitable. She herself is becoming financially strong through other mediums including pickles, sattu, papad, incense sticks, neera, idol art, rural art.
It is also creating employment opportunities. In 2022-23, transactions worth Rs 60 crore 46 lakh have been done by women through 148 customer service centres. Due to which the monthly income of hundreds of women has increased from ten to 15 thousand rupees. Five Didi Ki Rasoi including Sadar Hospital, Barauni Refinery Township Hospital, Residential Scheduled Caste Tribal School, Teghra Sub-Divisional Hospital are being operated. From where more than one crore business has been done till 31st March.
525 women prepared 18 quintals of honey by keeping bees in the district, which earned them good income. About 45 lakhs were earned by setting up rural markets in different parts of Ballia, Sahebpur Kamal, Bakhri, Barauni and Garhpura blocks. Women associated with this mission also came forward to promote the use of green manure. 244 didis were inspired to make green manure, so about 250 tonnes of green manure has been prepared.
Union Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Giriraj Singh says that the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought about a paradigm shift in the rural economy through livelihood. A large number of rural women are becoming employment providers rather than employment seekers by joining livelihood. Rural women have made a major contribution to the economy. Now work is being done on the target of increasing the income of each sister associated with livelihood to one lakh. Continuous work is being done in the direction of providing training, bank loans and markets to women.
He said that women associated with livelihood are not only making a big difference in the economy. Rather, he has taken a big initiative in strengthening the social structure as well. The change that is coming in every field from self-help groups. With this, the country will be successful in making a better society and a strong nation. Along with giving a better life to their families, crores of women engaged in furthering the development of the country have become the drivers of the nation’s development along with themselves.
