The Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan (MMUA), a financial support scheme aimed at empowering rural women entrepreneurs, is finding massive support across the State ever since its launch. Reports from the ground are pointing to a tremendous enthusiasm among women cutting across the State’s geography.
Sipra Das, president of Rangia Anchalik Panchayat in Kamrup district, while responding to the interest of the women self-help groups’ members to become a ‘Lakhpati Baideo’ said that she has never before had seen such enthusiasm among the members.
“We have 1831 women SHGs in 15 Gaon Panchayats under Rangia Development Block. On January 27, we distributed forms under the Abhiyan. We distributed the entire set of forms in a day. Under the guidance of ASRLM officials, women SHG members will fill up their forms and submit to us. A date for this will be announced soon,” she said.
Dibrugarh district SHGs were not far behind in their enthusiasm for the Scheme. Sanjib Hazarika, president of Rajabheta Gaon Panchayat under Dibrugarh Barbaruah Development Block in the district, spoke of the excitement among the SHG members.
“Our GP is the largest in Dibrugarh district. Since the day of the announcement of the Abhiyan, we have been receiving hundreds of inquiries. There is a massive enthusiasm among them. We have distributed 1,684 forms among members of 165 women SHGs. Even the local MLA was present at the Jyoti–Bishnu-Bhupendra Auditorium in Bampathar,” Hazarika said.
Biswajit Das, secretary of Lamajuar GP under Badarpur Development Block, Karimganj, spoke of women SHG members lining up two hours before the opening time of the GP office to collect forms.
Dinesh Thakuria, president of 24 no. Dakshin Dharmapur Gaon Panchayat, in Nalbari district corroborated the excitement. “On the very first day of the distribution of forms, our panchayats were facing waves of SHG visitors for their forms.
While launching the scheme, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said that it will help 39-lakh-plus women, associated with self-help groups (SHGs), once completed.
“We already have a scheme for women SHGs in which around 700,000 women associated with SHGs have become ‘lakhpatis’. The new scheme will help those women who want to start their entrepreneurial journey separately from the SHGs they are associated with,” said Dr. Sarma.
Purnima Gogoi, president of Betbari Gaon Panchayat in Sivasagar district was hopeful that the scheme will bring out the best in SHG members.
“We have four villages under our GP. Under the aegis of ASRLM, 77 women SHGs have been constituted in villages under our GP. Some of these SHGs have already done well in generating income through small business linked with agriculture and its allied sector,” she said.
In the first phase, a successful applicant will be provided with a grant of ₹10,000 for the first year to start any business from a list of 145 business plans prepared by the Government. The total amount earmarked by the scheme as part of the State annual budget is ₹3,900 cr, making it the biggest such scheme in the State.In the second year, they will get a bank loan of ₹12,500 and a grant from the State Government. There will be checks and balances to see that the amount they received in the first year has been properly utilised. Each eligible woman will be provided with ₹35,000 over three years in their endeavour.
