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TEZPUR: Eight women from selected SHGs covering all seven blocks of Sonitpur district were felicitated with the honour of 'Lakhpati Mahila' as part of a weeklong celebration of International Women's Day by Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission.
The week-long celebration has been termed 'ICONIC week' with the slogan 'Nayi Bharat Ki Nayi Naari'. The women who were felicitated are earning an annual income of above Rs. 1 lakh by way of being involved in different livelihoods activities since long like livestock, incense stick, weaving, vermicomposting, etc.
Lakhpati Mahila is an initiative of the Ministry of Rural Development to ensure that each SHG member can earn more than Rs 1 lakh per annum. The ICONIC week has been designed with various week-long activities like DDUGKY (Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushalya Yojana) mobilization, health camps, Swachh Abhiyaan, awareness on gender balancing, rallies related to gender issues, various events among SHGs etc.
Among those felicitated in Wednesday's programme were Rupsana Begum, an SHG member from Dhekiajuli Block who started livelihood activities such as livestock, fishery and other agricultural activities with financial assistance from ASRLM and is now earning above Rs. 2 lakh per annum. Prior to this, she was facing financial hardships.
Another woman who was felicitated is Dipamoni Baishya, an SHG member from Rangapara Block involved in incense stick making since January, 2022. She got inspired for the same from Tezpur SARAS Mela and took up the incense-making activity. At present, she is earning Rs 10,000 to Rs 12,000 per month and is able to sell 50 dozens of incense stick packets at Rangapara market per day. She had received financial assistance and support from ASRLM for her income-generating activity.
Jimli Devi, an SHG member from Naduar Block, was also felicitated on the occasion. She has an electronic tailoring machine which was bought with financial assistance received from ASRLM. Her yearly income is above Rs. 3 lakh.
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