Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday launched the second phase of the Chief Minister’s Single Women Self-Employment Scheme at the Chief Sevak Sadan located at the Chief Minister’s Camp Office. On the occasion, he transferred the first instalment of ₹1,55,40,000 to 212 new women beneficiaries and the second instalment of ₹1,20,76,875 to 276 women beneficiaries from the first phase through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system. In total, ₹2,76,16,875 was transferred to the bank accounts of 488 women beneficiaries.
The Chief Minister said that the greatest strength of any society and nation is its women. He stated that ensuring women’s dignity, safety, self-reliance, and empowerment is among the state government’s highest priorities. He added that the scheme is intended to support single women, widows, destitute women, abandoned women, divorced women, acid attack survivors, women affected by other crimes, and transgender persons by connecting them with self-employment opportunities.
The Chief Minister said that under the scheme, the state government provides a subsidy of up to 75 percent for projects costing up to ₹2 lakh, enabling beneficiaries to establish self-employment ventures in their respective areas and lead dignified lives.
He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several historic initiatives have been undertaken for women’s empowerment. The state government is also strengthening women economically through programmes such as Self-Help Groups, Lakhpati Didi, the Udyamshala Scheme, and House of Himalayas. At present, around 5 lakh women in the state are engaged in economic activities through more than 70,000 Self-Help Groups.
Women Empowerment and Child Development Minister Rekha Arya said that the scheme is writing a new chapter of self-reliance and dignity for single women in the state. She added that the government views women not as beneficiaries of assistance but as equal partners in development by connecting them with self-employment.
