Maharashtra Cabinet Approves Nav Tejaswini Scheme For Providing Jobs To Women In Rural Areas

Pranita Roy

Pune, October 7, 2020: The Maharashtra cabinet today approved Ministry of Women and Child Development’s (WCD) Nav Tejaswini scheme, through which Rs 523 crore will be granted to Mahila Bachat Gat or women Self-Help Groups (SHGs), announced Maharashtra WCD minister Advocate Yashomati Thakur.

The Nav Tejaswini scheme will be implemented under the Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal (MAVIM)– a state women’s development corporation; aims to empower women and provide employment to SHG women. The scheme will benefit around 10 lakh families in rural areas. “It will provide financial support to these families to pull them out of poverty. Also, the scheme will facilitate low-interest loans to women,” said Thakur. 

The cabinet also approved provisions for boosting rural women entrepreneurship in Maharashtra. For this, the International Funds for Agriculture Development (IFAD) will grant Rs 334 crore and the state government will provide funds amounting Rs 190 crore for establishing and supporting rural women entrepreneurship, the minister informed.

Rural Women Entrepreneurship

In order to financially empower women through the SHG movement, Thakur said that the self-help group movement in rural areas is being vigorously run through the MAVIM. “However, since women did not own property, they were not part of any formal banking system as independent individuals for seeking loans. At present, loans are provided through SHGs, but the loan amount is small and it is sanctioned to the self-help groups and not the women members independently,” she said.

Adding to this, the minister stated that even though women are capable and trained for the industry or entrepreneurship, yet they face difficulties seeking loan approvals to set up businesses, small enterprises, and produce goods among others. “Hence, to overcome that, ‘Nav-Tejaswini– Maharashtra Rural Women Empowerment Development Initiative’ will prove to be revolutionary. The emphasis will be on providing personal loans to women and bank linking of SHGs’ Bachat Gat,” she added.

‘Vikel Te Pike’: Women will produce goods

“Under the ‘Vikel Te Pikel’ initiative by the Maharashtra government, we aim to uplift the SHGs to the next level by initiating ways like establishing their cooperatives, federation and companies etc.,” said Thakur. 

Further emphasising on local need, productivity and demand, the state government’s ambitious ‘Vikel to Pikel’ scheme will focus on procuring products from SHGs. To upgrade the quality and presentation of SHG products, IFAD will be facilitating international standard skills and guidance to the groups. Nonetheless, with the help of modern technology the SHGs’ products will be manufactured at par with private manufacturers as well as corporate sector products. The minister assured that all kinds of help will be provided through MAVIM for branding of products, packaging, quality of products.

“Our objective is to empower women, children nourishment and make Maharashtra a healthy state. The project will also focus on the nutrition of women and children. Besides, acknowledge the plight of women and efforts will be made to increase their participation in the decision-making process,” added Thakur.

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