Assam Chief Minister Launches Women Entrepreneurship Mission in Karimganj and Cachar Districts
Launch of Women Entrepreneurship Mission
On Tuesday, Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the distribution of checks under the Chief Minister's Women Entrepreneurship Mission in the Karimganj North Assembly constituency and the Katigorah and Barkhola Assembly constituencies in Cachar district. As part of this initiative, a total of 14,135 women from Karimganj North, 18,578 from Katigorah, and 19,756 from Barkhola received seed capital of ₹10,000 each. To date, this mission has reached a total of 1,940,715 women across 80 assembly constituencies in the state.
Government's Commitment to Women's Empowerment
Addressing a large gathering at the DSA Sports Ground in Sribumi district, the Chief Minister announced that the state government plans to provide initial capital of ₹10,000 to 3.2 million women under this mission, with an estimated expenditure of ₹3,200 crore. He highlighted that there are 2,039 'Lakshmi Baideu' self-help groups in Karimganj North and mentioned the top 20 female entrepreneurs in the area who have achieved the highest incomes.
Utilization of Seed Capital
Sarma explained how the seed capital can be utilized, stating that if women deposit the first installment in their self-help groups, a collective fund of ₹1 lakh can be created. This fund can be used to start collective enterprises, invest in individual businesses, or expand existing family ventures. He further mentioned that the government will assess the use of these funds after six months. Women who effectively utilize the initial assistance will be eligible for additional support of ₹25,000 and ₹50,000 in subsequent phases.
Additional Benefits and Development Initiatives
The Chief Minister also announced that an additional 2,000 beneficiaries will be included under the Orunodoi scheme in the constituency, with each beneficiary set to receive ₹8,000 on February 20. Furthermore, he declared an allocation of ₹10 crore for the improvement of the DSA Sports Ground. He emphasized that the government has ensured the supply of nearly all essential goods and that Assam is making significant strides towards becoming a developed state.