- Uttarakhand State Government to launch Jalsakhi, improving Women’s Lives
- The initiative follows the successful 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme
The Uttarakhand state government is set to launch a new initiative called Jalsakhi, aiming to improve the livelihoods of rural women. This follows the successful 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme, which helped over 1.63 lakh women achieve an annual income of over Rs 1 lakh in 2022. Jalsakhi will empower women self-help groups (SHGs) by providing rural drinking water supply tasks, income opportunities, skill development, and systemic strengthening.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Drinking Water Department in Uttarakhand is involving women self-help groups (SHGs) in billing and supplying drinking water in rural areas. The Har Ghar Nal scheme aims to provide tap water to every household, and selected groups will be trained as Nal Jal Mitras. The pilot project offers additional employment opportunities for rural women.
The Lakhpati Didi scheme, launched in 2022, aims to increase the annual income of 5.07 lakh women in SHGs by over Rs 1 lakh. Training in agriculture, horticulture, dairy production, tailoring, embroidery, LPG distribution, veterinary services, insurance schemes, and digital transactions has helped 1.63 lakh women become 'Lakhpati Didis' within three years. To further boost economic welfare, the Mukhyamantri Sashakt Bahna Utsav Yojana, launched in August 2023, has helped over 30,000 women in the state, generating business worth ₹4.93 crore.
