Srinagar, Sept 24 (GNS): Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan today chaired a meeting to review the functioning of JK Rural Livelihood Mission (JKRLM) at SKICC here.On the occasion the Advisor also released e-Coffee Table Book of JK Rural Livelihood Mission.
The meeting was also attended by Secretary Rural Development and Panchayat Department Sheetal Nanda, Mission Director JKRLM Rubina Kousar, Additional Mission Director JKRLM and District Project Managers.
The Advisor took a first-hand feedback from the District Project managers of the Kashmir division about the functioning of Self Help Groups (SHGs) and the various activities undertaken by these groups. He also asked them about the panchayats they have covered and the challenges being faced by SHGs.The Advisor directed the officers to keep monitoring of the different activities on a periodical basis for the effective delivery of the services.
Emphasizing that there is a need for sound business management plan, the Advisor said that the activities being executed have a potential to change the rural economy and give a major facelift to the lives of people.The Advisor said that the SHGs are a major source of employment and they will be provided every kind of support from the government.
He said that the focus should be on economic empowerment of women with positive and direct effect on the households and the society as a whole.Advisor stressed to focus on convergence with line departments for availing the benefits from all the existing government schemes and also asked them to focus on Rural Haats and vegetable production in poly houses.Emphasizing on the regular field visits by the officers in their respective blocks, he instructed the block managers to ensure proper monitoring and execution of the scheme and its components at block and District level.
The Advisor was briefed about the implementation of SRLM in Jammu and Kashmir and was given out that 43383 SHGS have been formed under JKRLM (Umeed). It was given out in the meeting that 3.78 lakh rural women have been mobilized into SHGS in 96 blocks across the 20 districts of J&K, besides 23 blocks have been covered under NITI Ayog (Aspirational Districts).Under the Mahila Kissan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana, the farm based livelihoods is being implemented in the 6 blocks focusing on low cost management of livestock and sustainable agricultural practices.
The Advisor was also briefed that 1136 new Start Up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) have been created while 244 existing SVEPs have been strengthened.It was also given out that the SHG members have been encouraged to invest and enhance their existing livelihoods and the Mission had linked the SHG members with various schemes for enhanced benefits. (GNS)