Rural women on the path of self-reliance through self-employment

Rai pur – Rural women are presenting a new example of self‑reliance by becoming economically strong through self‑help groups. The aim is to empower women economically, improve living standards and integrate them into mainstream development. Self‑help groups have played a vital role in strengthening women financially. These groups help women start small businesses, participate in agriculture‑based activities and provide employment opportunities in non‑traditional sectors. Through self‑help groups, women’s income has increased. Additionally, the groups have offered women the chance to learn new skills such as tailoring, weaving and handicrafts to boost earnings. This has become an effective means of job creation, making women self‑reliant in both rural and urban areas. Collector Sunjpur Mrs. Reina Jamiel visited the village Panchayat of Krishna pur, under the district Panchayat of Ramanujanagar, to observe the livelihood activities of the Pooja women’s self‑help group run by member Mrs. Basanti Rajwade. During the visit she gathered complete information about the operation of an oil mill, a flour mill and a rice mill and discussed with Mrs. Rajwade the progress of income and business generated through self‑employment. The oil mill’s mustard oil is now supplied to Sunjpur and Ambikapur. Mrs. Basanti Rajwade reported that these livelihood activities provide her with a monthly income of about ₹32,000, of which roughly ₹10,000 is spent on running and maintaining the machines. The mustard oil produced in her oil mill is now being supplied to Sunjpur and Ambikapur, giving her business recognition locally as well as in other regions. The collector praised Mrs. Rajwade’s self‑employment efforts and encouraged her to expand the business and join other livelihood activities, emphasizing the importance of maintaining cleanliness at the workplace and proper machine maintenance. The collector said that livelihood activities conducted through women’s self‑help groups are playing a crucial role in empowering rural women economically and making them self‑reliant. District Panchayat chief executive officer and other officials and staff were present at the occasion. Under the guidance of the district administration, continuous efforts are being made to promote women’s empowerment and economic self‑reliance, creating new self‑employment opportunities for rural women.