CM Honours Women Self-Help Groups under “Mukhyamantri Sashakt Behna Utsav Yojana”

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami honoured outstanding women self-help groups under the Mukhyamantri Sashakt Behna Utsav Yojana at the Chief Sevak Sadan in the CM residence on Monday, and also interacted with them. On this occasion, the Chief Minister launched the mascot and logo of the Mukhyamantri Udyamshala Yojana, and unveiled new products and the website of “House of Himalayas.”

The CM said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been continuously working for the welfare and empowerment of women, with initiatives like 33% reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Ujjwala Yojana, and Lakhpati Didi, aimed at making women self-reliant. “When a woman becomes economically empowered, she strengthens the entire society,” he said.

The State Government is also working for women’s welfare, ensuring greater participation in education, health, entrepreneurship, and employment. Through the Rural Livelihood Mission, rural women are being made self-reliant. Under the Udyamshala Yojana, in the next three years, more than 15,000 entrepreneurs, self-help groups, and Lakhpati Didis will receive incubation support including business skills training, legal and licensing help, co-working space, investment assistance, and a strong marketing network from local to global levels.

Under the Vocal for Local and Local to Global vision, the State has created the House of Himalayas umbrella brand to fulfil the Lakhpati Didi pledge and give local products a global identity. Currently, 35 high-quality products are being marketed, and soon these will be exported to other countries.

The CM said 68,000 SHGs comprising nearly 500,000 women are running businesses in the state. Since the launch of the Sashakt Behna Utsav Yojana in 2023, women have set up over 27,000 stalls at various events, selling products worth over ₹7 crore. More than 163,000 women in the state have become Lakhpatis. To support product processing and marketing, 49 growth centres have been established, along with 33 nano packaging units in 13 districts, 17 Saras centres, 3 state-level marketing centres, and 8 bakery units. Under the Central Government’s One Station One Product scheme, special kiosks have been set up at Dehradun and Haridwar railway stations for SHG products.

Women beneficiaries shared success stories:

• Seema Kumari (Almora): Earned ₹18 lakh in 5 years through various schemes.
• Daya Danu (Bageshwar): 400 women linked with her earned ₹1 crore in a year.
• Hema Upadhyay (Champawat): Earns ₹4 lakh annually through agro-tourism, polyhouses, and homestays; returned to her village during COVID.
• Rekha Negi (Chamoli): Earns well from selling local products via stalls.
• Kiran Rana (Dehradun): Profits from mushroom farming with 34 women.
• Chhavi (Haridwar): Took ₹10 lakh loan for a restaurant, received ₹6 lakh subsidy.
• Kiran Joshi (Nainital): Earned ₹8 lakh in 9 months from silk products.

The event was attended by MLAs Khajan Das and Savita Kapoor, Rural Development Secretary Radhika Jha, Commissioner Anuradha Pal, Additional Secretary Jharna Kamthan, and other Rural Development Department officials.

Department of Information & Public Relations