Champawat, August 4 (HS): To boost the economic participation of women in Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami virtually launched the Mukhyamantri Sashakt Bahna Utsav Yojana on Monday.

As part of the launch event, women’s self-help groups (SHGs) in Champawat set up stalls in the Roadways Bus Station complex, showcasing and selling products made by them. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that today’s women are no longer confined to household roles but are emerging as strong contributors to the rural, societal, and state economy. Through their hard work and dedication, SHG women are driving economic, social, and cultural transformation in society.

During the event, the Chief Minister interacted with Laxmi Joshi, president of the Maa Purnagiri SHG, who shared that the rakhi made from pine needles (pirul) by her group is receiving appreciation not just in local markets, but also from security agencies like SSB and ITBP. Other products such as mango and amla candies, spices, aipan artwork, white honey, bay leaves, and other local items are also in strong demand.

Women from these groups are now earning ₹7,000 to ₹8,000 per month, leading to a marked improvement in their standard of living. The exhibition featured aipan-adorned gifts, traditional foods, woolen clothes, herbal items, baskets, and handmade crafts, drawing significant public interest.

The participating women said that the scheme not only offered a platform to showcase their products but also enabled direct engagement with consumers, helping them gain valuable insights and confidence.

Present at the program were Chief Development Officer Dr. G.S. Khati, District Development Officer Dinesh Singh Digari, Assistant Project Director Vimmi Joshi, Block Development Officer Ashok Adhikari, DPM-RLP Shubhankar Kumar, along with several administrative officials, SHG members, and local residents.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar