By Ahmed Ali Fayyaz New Delhi, Nov 24, 2019: Nirmala Sitharaman visited Kashmir on Monday as the Union Finance Minister.She took over in May 2019, and conducted a series meetings with women entrepreneurs in Srinagar.
As she inaugurated developmental works worth Rs 165 crore, she also had a detailed conversation with four Kashmiri journalists who run their own publications and printing presses.
Sitharaman was delighted to discover that Srinagar’s female journalists had started their own businesses in the moribund media sector, despite being under unprecedented stress since March 2020’s outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Minister was impressed that the valley’s women journalists were independent editors of off-beat and sports magazines.She asked Sinha for maximum support, including the allotment land for their printing units in a particular category of different industrial estates.
The interaction featured 60 women entrepreneurs from a variety sectors including journalism, handicrafts, beekeeping, handicraft, handicraft, handicraft, copper works, and furniture making.It featured stories about women entrepreneurs who were able to benefit from different programs initiated by the J&K government.
Sitharaman praised UT’s efforts to create a culture of women entrepreneurship.It was a great relief to see women entrepreneurs in J&K break into traditionally male-dominated areas.
She listened to the inspiring stories of women entrepreneurs who rose above the difficulties to help their society at the grassroots level.
“The land in Kashmir is the land Maa Sharada, and that power-packed knowledge-driven energy has come out of here.
She invited her audience to “move around the country and tell your stories”.
Later, Sitharaman met with beneficiaries and operators of the flagship UMEED program in the rural development sector and cooperative sector.Sinha explained the goals of UMEED, and stated that Rs 1,000 crore was extended to 54 325 Self Help Groups (SHGs), which had enrolled more than 4.5 lakh women in Jammu & Kashmir.
Sinha stressed that his government was empowering women entrepreneurs with a series of targeted programmes like ‘UMEED, ‘SAATH, and ‘HAUSLA.He said that these programs have given women a new confidence and a new spirit, making them more capable to take part in the J&K’s journey.
Sinha stated that UMEED’s success encouraged the UT government to set a goal of connecting one million more rural women to the program in the current year.J&K Livelihood Mission launched the “SAATH” initiative.
This program will allow 500 rural women entrepreneurs to grow their businesses.
“Since 70% of Jammu and Kashmir’s population is dependent on agriculture, we have launched another program to empower women in rural areas.
In different districts of the UT, a cadre of ‘Krishi Sakhi and ‘Pashu Sakhi’ with 938 women was created.This program will train 75,000 women farmers in agriculture and horticulture to be sustainable and integrated farmers.
Sinha stated that the initiative will also help to reform the agriculture sector, which is the backbone of the economy.
UMEED Women Haat was established with the goal of creating a market for self-help groups of women.
Through this market, they can sell their manufactured goods at one location and also facilitate market connections for the future.The 40 Model Clusters for Women, e-Marketing platforms, and ‘Digipay Sakhi’ will channelize the inner strength of women and help them reach new heights.
Sitharaman and LG Sinha inaugurated works in the areas of Health, Education, Urban Infrastructure, and Disaster Management.They were worth Rs 130.49 Crore.She laid the foundation stone of the Union Territory Level Emergency Operation Centre and the SCADA control building at Budgam.This was an estimated cost of Rs 34.88 million under the Jhelum and Tawi Flood Recovery Project.
These sub-projects are part the JTFRP, which is supported by a credit of $250 millions from the World Bank.The project was initiated in Jammu & Kashmir following the devastating floods in September 2014.
These floods devastated low-lying areas in Srinagar and Anantnag and left behind extensive damage to housing, livelihoods, roads, bridges, and roads.
JTFRP is being implemented by the Government of J&K under the Prime Minister’s Development Package for J&K (PMDP).This package was launched in April 2016.The project will restore essential services that were disrupted by floods, and improve the design standard and practices in order to increase resilience.
The social impact of JTFRP is evident in the coronavirus pandemic response of the UT Government.An amount of $50 million was allotted and used for COVID-19.
This was done by activating the Contingency Emergency Response Components (CERC) of the project.Medical equipment worth Rs.The purchase of medical equipment worth Rs.290 crore and 30 oxygen-generating plants at a total price of Rs 75 crore was a boost to the infrastructure for health to deal with the challenges presented by the pandemic.
Sitharaman launched two youth-oriented employment creation schemes of Mission Youth on this occasion.Rise Together (Community Entrepreneurship Development program), and Nav Parivartan (“Youth Innovation Promotion Program”).
Students of the LG Super 75 scholarship received Rs 1 lakh each in cheques.She stated that the Prime Minister’s dream to see every part of the country develop equally is being fulfilled and J&K is joining the journey in spirit and letter.
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