ITANAGAR : The Arunachal Pradesh government on Friday stressed the need for greater convergence among departments and directed that identified potential ‘Lakhpati Didis’ be given priority under relevant state and centrally sponsored schemes to help rural women achieve sustainable annual incomes of Rs 1 lakh or more.
The directive was issued during a meeting of the state-level steering committee on the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative, chaired by rural development and panchayati raj secretary Sonal Swaroop at the Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ArSRLM) office here.
Swaroop also asked all departments to submit reports on benefits extended to self-help group (SHG) members under various ‘Atmanirbhar’ schemes during the last two financial years.
The reports will help assess the contribution of these schemes towards achieving the objectives of the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative, she said.
Swaroop emphasised the need to strengthen inter-departmental coordination to maximise livelihood opportunities and enhance the incomes of SHG members.
The meeting was attended by representatives of various departments and key stakeholders, including officials from the agriculture, skill development and horticulture departments, Arunachal Pradesh Agriculture Marketing Board (APAMB), ArSRLM and the veterinary department, officials said.
‘Lakhpati Didi’ is a flagship initiative of the Centre and the state government aimed at enabling women associated with SHGs under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) to achieve a sustainable annual household income of Rs 1 lakh or more.
The programme promotes livelihood diversification, entrepreneurship development, skill enhancement, financial inclusion and convergence with government schemes to improve the socio-economic condition of rural households.
During the meeting, representatives of various departments outlined schemes and interventions that could benefit identified potential ‘Lakhpati Didis’.
The committee also deliberated on assessing the skill requirements of beneficiaries to facilitate targeted capacity-building programmes.
Departments were asked to compile and share relevant data during upcoming district-level steering committee meetings to be chaired by the respective deputy commissioners.
Chief executive officer of APAMB highlighted several market linkage initiatives being implemented by the board, including Mission Arun Himveer, and informed the committee about opportunities available under the programme.
He also requested ArSRLM to facilitate the engagement of potential ‘Lakhpati Didis’ to strengthen market access and income-generation opportunities for SHG members.
The meeting concluded with all departments reaffirming their commitment to work in close coordination to achieve the goals of the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative and accelerate the socio-economic empowerment of rural women across the state. (Source: PTI)
