Shimla, May 19 (PTI) The government is all set to launch Mukhya Mantri Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana to ensure stronger participation of women in the rural economy, a statement said on Tuesday.
Through this scheme, in line with the budget announcement, women will be provided with loans to start businesses in agriculture, horticulture, allied activities and other self-employment ventures.
Under the scheme, women from rural areas whose annual family income does not exceed Rs 1 lakh will be eligible for benefits, including loans of up to Rs 3 lakh for setting up dairy farming, poultry farming, beekeeping, food processing, tailoring, boutiques, beauty parlours and other enterprises.
The loan would be provided through the Himachal Pradesh Women Development Corporation. The state government will bear 4 per cent of the interest payable on these loans, it said.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said the Congress government is implementing several welfare schemes for the social and economic upliftment of women.
“Women play a vital role in the rural economy and, keeping in view the changing socio-economic needs and challenges, the state government is working towards making women self-reliant and empowered,” he said.
He said that when women are empowered, the entire family becomes economically stronger.
He further said the state government has fixed Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for naturally grown wheat, maize, raw turmeric, barley from the Pangi region and ginger, to increase the income of people of rural areas. Additionally, the government has also raised the procurement price of milk.
This initiative of the state government will encourage women in rural areas to create self-employment opportunities and further strengthen the rural economy, the statement added. PTI BPL KSI KSI
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