Nalbari (Assam), 22 August (HS): Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday launched the second phase of the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyan (Chief Minister’s Women Entrepreneurship Mission) in Nalbari by distributing cheques to members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs).

The scheme, which began its first phase on April 1 in Behali constituency, aims to provide financial assistance to SHG women members. In this second phase, 33,909 SHG members—including 31,179 women from rural Nalbari and 2,730 from Nalbari Municipality—received ₹10,000 each to support their entrepreneurial ventures. The Chief Minister personally handed over cheques to 13 beneficiaries during the ceremony.

Addressing the gathering at Ghograpar Higher Secondary School playground, Dr. Sarma said the mission was conceptualized to strengthen financial independence of women in SHGs. Assam has about 4 lakh SHGs with nearly 40 lakh women members and the government has committed to extend ₹10,000 as seed capital to each member, entailing an expenditure of ₹3,038 crore.

The CM explained that beneficiaries could use the funds individually, with family members or collectively with other SHG members. The government will review fund utilization after one year and those who use the aid effectively will be eligible for the next phase, where ₹25,000 will be granted—₹15,000 from the government and ₹20,000 from SHGs, linked with bank credit. Proper utilization can make them eligible for loans up to ₹50,000, with the state government covering interest and offering a 25% subsidy.

Dr. Sarma reaffirmed the government’s commitment to welfare through initiatives such as Orunodoi, Nijut Moina and the Women Entrepreneurship Mission. He highlighted positive feedback from the first phase launched in Behali and credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s support for enabling welfare and developmental schemes in Assam.

The programme was attended by Panchayat & Rural Development Minister Ranjeet Kumar Das, Agriculture Minister and Nalbari’s Guardian Minister Atul Bora, PHE Minister Jayanta Mallabarua, Additional Chief Secretary B Kalyan Chakravarty, ASRLM State Mission Director Kuntal Moni Sharma Bordoloi, Deputy Commissioner Nibedan Das Patwari and other dignitaries.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash