Every district to have ‘Women Haat’ within a month: Mehta

JAMMU – On the eve of International Women’s Day today the Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta announced that every district would have its ‘Umeed Women Haat’ by next month.

The Chief Secretary was speaking in a function organized by J&K Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM) to honour the women achievers of J&K and launch few women oriented initiatives.

Dr Mehta desired that he wishes to see a women haat in every panchayat. He said that women of J&K have shattered the glass ceiling and had always been ahead of men even in the difficult times of 90s. He said that a little needs to be done to empower them in real terms as they were never discriminated on the basis of their gender.

The Chief Secretary encouraged them to come forward and try their luck in men-dominated avenues like MGNREGA contracts, tourism sector and others. He said that they would always find administration on their side. He said them to explore any enterprise of their liking and ask for assistance due to them as their right with all emphasis. He said that JKRLM is the apt platform to fulfil their dreams.

He asked the JKRLM to take the simultaneous initiative of creating digital literacy among these rural women so that their interests are safeguarded more effectively. He maintained that these women even if not literate are capable of learning these skills if given a chance.

Dr Mehta mentioned that a plethora of measures had been taken by the government to take J&K ahead. He said that no initiative is going to fulfil its objective unless women are not going to own and adopt it. He gave out that in next 5 years the GDP of J&K is going to get doubled and women has the opportunity to take their share out and increase their income manifold.

The Chief Secretary said today JKRLM has achieved the feat of training 5 lakh women and he expects them to take it to 10 lakh women trainees till next Women Day. He gave out that our motto is to ensure that no potential beneficiary is left behind among women.

He also entrusted women to put their vital role in creating awareness about all these initiatives among their acquaintances. He asked them to atleast take this word to 5 of their friends so that all are informed about benefits accruing out of these schemes. He also urged them in creating ‘Nasha Mukht’ J&K.

The Commissioner Secretary, RDD, Mandeep Kaur said that the mission has created hope among thousands of women. She said that she is very confident that the trust reposed by CS in the mission would be kept under every circumstances.

Kaur further said the mission is handholding some 50000 women Self Help Groups (SHGs) involving more than 5 lakh women. She said that there is no cap on our target and abilities and she finds Umeedthe most promising in making things happen for all targets to be achieved.

In her presentation the Mission Director, JKRLM, Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar said that in just 6 months the SAATH initiative has attained its targets successfully. She gave out that under this programme 513 women entrepreneurs have been provided sectoral specific training out of whom 120 have been choosen for further mentorship.

The MD further explained that under this initiative4 months long training courses were conducted for aspirational women entrepreneurs besides holding dozens of online and offline sessions across 20 trade sectors.

Throwing light on other achievements, the MD said that dozens of SHG products have been successfully on boarded over e-commerce sites like Amazon, Flipkart and Meesho. She also revealed that exclusive ‘Umeed Women Haats’ have been established for marketing of these products at these popular tourist destinations. She said that this platform is providing a chance to about 5000 SHGs annually to showcase and sell their products on rotational basis.

On the occasion an SHG tracking portal- ‘Aajeevika JK’ was launched by the Chief Secretary besides declaring open the Umeed Women Haatat Srinagar from 8th to 12th of this month. The portal was said to help in tracking all economic activities undertaken by SHG members, their income and other services availed from different departments like gold card, artisan card, Shram cards, insurance benefits under PMSBY, PMJJY.

The CS praised JKRLM for creating Ajeevika JK portal being first such livelihood tracking portal in the country which will help to make evidence based policies and interdepartmental convergence. He called it a milestone in the journey of the mission.

He also congratulated JKRLM for on boarding SHG products on e-commerce platforms. He said that it will change the way rural women can do business right from the comforts of their homes in villages.

During this event the success stories of women entrepreneurs mentored by JKRLM were also presented by the entrepreneurs themselves. The names of 120 women mentees of JKRLM who are going to get further handholding and up scaling through the mission were also unveiled.

The event being held on the International Women’s Day also witnessed honouring of the women achievers of the UT through JKRLM. These include the young Wushu Champion, Sadia Tariq; famous singer, Sonali Dogra; Founding Chairperson, FICCI FLO J&K, Ritu Singh; Entrepreneur, Sana Masood and dozens of other women known across J&K for their accomplishments and repute.

Others who were present includes India SME Forum President, Prahlad Kakar, SAATH mentor, Vinod Kumar and officers of JKRLM besides hundreds of women SHG members and entrepreneurs.