Sivasagar (Assam) [India], February 5 (HBTV): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday launched the distribution of seed capital cheques under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan (MMUA) in the Sivasagar and Sonari Legislative Assembly constituencies.
In Sivasagar, 34,711 beneficiaries, and in Sonari, 28,296 beneficiaries received cheques of INR 10,000 each.
The distribution of cheques under MMUA has been completed in 107 Legislative Assembly constituencies across the state so far, with 26,65,798 women receiving entrepreneurship support to date.
Addressing an event at the Talatal Ghar premises in the Sivasagar Legislative Assembly constituency, the Chief Minister said that a large-scale women-centric scheme like MMUA had never been undertaken before, not only in Assam but anywhere in the country.
He said the BJP government had introduced several initiatives over the past five years to support women, including MMUA, Orunodoi and Nijut Moina. Stating that women in Assam now feel safe and encouraged, Sarma said every government scheme has a specific objective and continues until its goals are achieved.
The Chief Minister said MMUA aims to enable women to become self-reliant and transform every woman into a ‘Lakhpati Baideu’. He informed that in Sivasagar district alone, 6,178 women have already been recognised as Lakhpati Baideus through their own efforts, earning between INR 1.27 lakh and INR 1.42 lakh annually.
He said that over the past five years, the state government has worked to create Lakhpati Baideus by providing capital support, training and assistance in marketing products, adding that such women would also be gradually engaged in various government projects.
Advising beneficiaries on the proper utilisation of the INR 10,000 seed capital, Sarma said Self-Help Group members could deposit the funds in group accounts for collective business activities, take loans from the group’s pooled fund to start enterprises, or use the money for activities such as goat rearing, piggery or other businesses. He also said the funds could be invested in a husband’s or family’s business.
The Chief Minister said the government would conduct door-to-door assessments after six months to evaluate fund utilisation. If used properly, beneficiaries would receive INR 25,000 in the next phase, followed by another evaluation, and INR 50,000 in the third year for those who continue to utilise the funds effectively.
He further noted that 30,447 beneficiaries in the Sivasagar constituency are currently receiving benefits under the Orunodoi Scheme and announced that an additional 2,000 women would be included. He also said that 4,200 girl students in the constituency are benefiting from the Nijut Moina Scheme, which aims to ensure that no girl is deprived of education due to financial constraints.
Sarma said the scheme has resulted in more than 50,000 additional students enrolling in colleges this year compared to last year and has contributed to a significant reduction in early marriages. He added that women are now actively engaged in various fields and that increased empowerment would lead to reduced crime and positive societal transformation.
(ANI)