GUWAHATI, April 1 - In a move to give women�s empowerment a boost, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal launched the Kanaklata Mahila Sabalikaran Achoni amidst thousands of women Self Help Group (SHG) members at a function held at the Sarusajai Stadium here today.
The Kanaklata Mahila Sabalikaran Achoni is a flagship scheme conceived of by the Government of Assam to pave the way for generating avenues for sustainable livelihood for the womenfolk of Assam.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Sonowal said, �Power of women is supreme and we should all have faith in woman power. The power of women can lead a nation to prosperity. A woman is a source of energy and direction to people of all generations�.
He said that Kanaklata Mahila Sabalikaran Achoni is a scheme to revamp the rural economy of the State. He said that if Assam has to progress, the villages of the State will have to be empowered. Realising this, the present State government has been taking various steps for strengthening rural economy.
He also maintained that the Government of Assam has launched the Kanaklata Mahila Sabalikaran Achoni with the sole aim of empowering the women. He also said that the present State government is committed to bringing about fundamental changes in governance, and therefore, is taking several welfare steps for the development of all sections of the people, especially women.
He also said that setting up of women cell in police stations, starting of a 24x7 helpline for women, and setting up of fast-track courts in all districts of the State are some of the initiatives that the State government has taken of late for safeguarding the rights and privileges of women.
He, however, said that without economic development women cannot make much headway and therefore, the government has launched the Kanaklata Mahila Sabalikaran Achoni among others for capacity building of the women.
Speaking on the occasion, Health and Family Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the Achoni is one of the most progressive and welfare-driven schemes of the State in recent times. For the success of the scheme, the government will spend Rs 2,500 crore in phases. True to its commitment, the State government has been taking several schemes and he gave a brief overview of all the schemes that the present government has taken so far.
Minister of State for Panchayat and Rural Development Naba Kumar Doley, while speaking on the occasion said with the united efforts of the Central and State governments, several welfare schemes for women have been taken and these schemes have already started giving dividends to the women. Under the Kanaklata Mahila Sabalikaran Achoni, the aim is to form one lakh SHGs covering approximately 10 lakh households.
Synchronising with the occasion, the Chief Minister distributed cheques to 15 SHGs. MP Bijaya Chakravarty and MLA Ramendra Narayan Kalita also spoke on the occasion.
