Rajeevika scheme bringing economic empowerment to rural women: Bhajanlal Sharma

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma hailed the Rajeevika scheme as a model for women empowerment, generating employment and bringing major social change in rural areas.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Wednesday described the state government's Rajeevika scheme as a model for women empowerment and said it has been bringing major social change in rural areas, besides generating employment opportunities.

Rajeevika scheme is a major livelihood and poverty alleviation programme run by the state government to help low-income rural women become financially independent by organising them into Self-Help Groups.

Addressing a Gram Vikas Chaupal programme in Chudada village of Banswara district, Sharma interacted with women associated with self-help groups under the scheme.

He said women in villages were becoming economically empowered by engaging in businesses worth lakhs and crores of rupees through Rajeevika.

The chief minister said the state government was committed to the welfare of women, youth, farmers and labourers in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision.

He said the ''Lakhpati Didi'' scheme had emerged as a symbol of women's self-reliance and had significantly improved women's standard of living.

According to him, more than 22 lakh women in Rajasthan have been trained under the scheme and around 17 lakh women have become ''Lakhpati Didis''.

He also highlighted various welfare initiatives for women, including free sonography under the Maa Voucher scheme, distribution of bicycles and scooters to girl students, and financial assistance under the Matru Vandana and Lado Protsahan schemes.

The chief minister also distributed cheques to women linked with self-help groups.

Tribal Area Development Minister Babulal Kharadi, Revenue Minister Hemant Meena and local public representatives were present at the event.