BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 28th February 2024 : The state government is committed to empowering women and making them self-reliant, Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy said on Wednesday. He was speaking at the inauguration of the Saras Mela, a three-day exhibition of products made by women from various self-help groups in Gomati district.
The Saras Mela, held at Rajarshi Hall in Udaipur, showcased 42 stalls from eight blocks of the district, featuring a range of items such as handicrafts, food, clothing, and organic abi. The event was organized by the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) and the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).
The Finance Minister praised the efforts of the women entrepreneurs and said that the state government was implementing several schemes to support them. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched various initiatives to make Lakhpati Didi, or women who earn more than one lakh rupees per year. He said that the state government had set a target of making two lakh women millionaires and that more than 80 thousand women had already achieved this feat.
He also said that the state government had given special emphasis to the promotion of local products and that the women of the self-help groups were producing organic abi, a healthy alternative to sugar. He said that the state government was working on various developmental projects in the fields of education, health, infrastructure, and agriculture.
MLA Rampada Jamatia, who was also present at the event, said that Prime Minister Modi was working for the welfare and empowerment of women and that a strong women force would make the country stronger. He urged the women to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the government and to become self-sufficient.
Gomati District Magistrate Tarit Kanti Chakma welcomed the guests and participants and said that the Saras Mela was a platform to showcase the talents and skills of the rural women. He said that the DRDA and the NRLM were providing training, credit, and marketing support to the women to help them start and sustain their enterprises.
Chairperson of Udaipur Municipal Council Shital Chandra Majumder thanked the Finance Minister and the other dignitaries for gracing the occasion and encouraged the women to continue their hard work and innovation. He also appreciated the efforts of the DRDA and the NRLM for organizing the event.
Among others, MLA Abhishek Debroy, MLA Jitendra Majumder, Gomti District Additional District Magistrate Sumit Lodh, SDM Jayanta Bhattacharya, and officials from various departments were present at the event.
