Kupwara, Dec 24 (KNS): An Interaction of Minister Ab. Haq Khan, Minister for Rural development and Panchayati Raj with SHG members of UMEED was held at Townhall Kupwara.
He was assisted by Dr. G.N. Qasba, Mission Director UMEED.
A brief welcome was followed by an interactive session between community and the Minister. There were around 250 SHG members in session and each had a success story to say about their progress and development in SHG’s. The members narrated how they transcend from debt and poverty by lending from their own institutions with prompt repayments. The SHG members were vocal and positive during the interaction with Minister, which reflected the level of empowerment among women by joining in UMEED SHG’s.
In interaction the members impressed upon how they raised their livelihoods and how mission supported them. The interaction was highly productive and impressed the Minister for Rural Development & Panchayati Raj.
The Mission Director UMEED reiterate on the future strategies of UMEED which will not only help in up scaling the programme but will also help in generating more sustainable livelihoods in rural areas. He assured the community for all possible help through the department. He focused on the innovations and skill building in phase second of the Project which will start from January. Pointing on the success he said 205 SHG’s alone in Block Kupwara have already been linked to Bank for financial assistance of Rs 50000 SHG which has been disbursed as well.
A detailed presentation on progress of UMEED in block Kupwara and Wavoora of district Kupwara was made by State Project Manager, Livelihoods, Sarafraz Ahmad Bhat.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp ChannelIn his presentation he gave put forth the No’ of SHG in block Kupwara as 561 and in block Wavoora 194, the percentage of population covered under UMEED has been 43% in both blocks. The presentation also highlighted, the achievements like Revolving Fund to Community 517 SHG’s, Community Investment Fund SHG’s 438 SHG’s and Bank linkages to 205 SHG’s. The presentation also emphasized the number of community cadre trained under UMEED inside and outside state as 160.
In the end the Minister had a detailed speech during which he promised full support to SHG’s. The community based nature of UMEED program has been crucial for rural women especially in backward districts like Kupwara.
He supposed that rural women need to have innovation while picking up Livelihoods and the programs like UMEED must facilitate in the same. The Minister acknowledged that program has been a big success in the district and is key to strengthen their participation in the decision-making which is the most important key to socio-economic development.
He further pointed that the Women leadership is restricted by the various social, cultural and political norms which need to be understood and addressed by programs like UMEED, to which he believed a lot has been done
The program ended with vote of thanks to guests of Honor, and participants from community besides other dignitaries like MLA Kupwara Bashir Ahmad Dar, District Development Commissioner, Additional Mission Director, Kashmir and other District level official’s in the event. (KNS)