Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot unveiled a scheme called Mahila Nidhi on Women’s Equality Day on Friday to help them sustain their livelihoods as well as start some small business ventures for their economic betterment.
This initiative by the state government will help women set up businesses through easy availability of finance under ‘Mahila Nidhi’ programme, an official statement said.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister said that there is a need to change social thinking and behaviour in order to improve women’s condition in the society. The state government is running several welfare schemes for women, he said.
In the budget 2022-23, the state government had said it will establish ‘Mahila Nidhi’ through Rajasthan Rural Livelihood Development Council.
Rajasthan is the second state in the country after Telangana where ‘Mahila Nidhi’ scheme has been started. This initiative has been aimed at strengthening women self-help groups by facilitating financiang from banks, increasing the income of women from poor households and marginal strata of the society, as per statement.
Under this scheme, loans up to Rs 40,000 will be deposited in the bank accounts of the group of members within 48 hours and loan above Rs 40,000 within 15 days. At present, 2.70 lakh self-help groups have been formed in 33 districts and 30 lakh families are connected. In 2022-23, 50,000 self-help groups are proposed to be formed, in which about 6 lakh families will be covered.
A total of 36 lakh families in the state will get benefits from Rajasthan Mahila Nidhi in a phased manner based on their needs.
The state government, the CM said, is committed to provide security to the women and girl child of the state, strengthen them from the point of view of self-defence, and make them aware about their rights and laws.
On the occasion of Mahila Nidhi launch, the Chief Minister distributed loans worth Rs 1.42 crore to the members of 386 self-help groups of six districts from Rajasthan Mahila Nidhi. He also rewarded eight women from the Rajeevika community cadre.
The Chief Minister said that his state is setting new records in the education sector, and in support of the claim, said that more girls than boys are seeking admission in higher educational institutions.
