In a move to bolster women’s empowerment and support the Prime Minister’s guarantees, the Chhattisgarh government is assigning the production of ready-to-eat meals to women’s self-help groups. The initiative was launched in Raigarh district, where Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai handed over contracts to 10 self-help groups for the manufacture and distribution of these meals.
The event was attended by Finance Minister O.P. Choudhary, Raigarh MP Radheshyam Rathia, Rajya Sabha MP Devendra Pratap Singh, MLA Purandar Mishra, Zila Panchayat President Shikha Ravindra Gabel, Mayor Jivardhan Chauhan, and Zila Panchayat member Sushma Khalkho.
The program is starting as a pilot project across six districts. Chief Minister Sai stated that the state government aims to provide nutritious supplementary food to children in Anganwadi centers through these self-help groups. The Raigarh district is leading the way, with the distribution of contracts to the initial groups.
The Chief Minister emphasized that this program will not only supply nutritious meals to children but also provide a source of income for the women involved, fostering economic independence. The project is a step towards self-employment and the social and economic empowerment of women, while also contributing to the improvement of nutritional standards for children in the state.
He also noted the implementation of several guarantees by the Prime Minister over the past year and a half, including the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, paddy procurement at a fixed rate, bonus distribution, the Mahtari Vandan Yojana, increased tendu leaf collection rates, and the Charan Paduka scheme.
Additionally, residents are being given the opportunity to visit religious sites through the Ramlala Darshan Yojana and pilgrimage schemes.
The government has also initiated Atal Digital Seva Kendras to bring banking services to rural areas, with 1,460 panchayats already benefiting. The remaining panchayats will be included soon.
Finance Minister O.P. Choudhary highlighted the government’s commitment to empowering women and stated that the ready-to-eat scheme is part of the larger national goal of creating 3 crore Lakhpati Didis. Raigarh district’s urban and rural areas, along with several project areas, have identified women’s groups for the distribution of ready-to-eat meals in Anganwadi centers.