ITANAGAR, July 5, 2023 – In a day-long interaction session held today, Chief Minister Pema Khandu praised the officials of the Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ArSRLM) for their commitment to empowering rural communities in Arunachal Pradesh. The session, attended by officials from the ArSRLM, District Mission Management Units (DMMUs), Block Mission Management Units (BMMUs), representatives of self-help groups (SHGs), Primary Level Federations (PLFs), and Cluster Level Federations (CLFs), focused on the convergence of rural development schemes and the use of digital technology for economic growth.
Chief Minister Khandu acknowledged the remarkable progress of SHGs, particularly those led by women, across the state. He commended the dedication of ArSRLM officials at the state, district, and block levels, which has resulted in the establishment of a total of 9,301 SHGs, 851 Primary Level Federations, and 27 Cluster Level Federations in the state.
Recognizing the potential of digital technology to further enhance entrepreneurial endeavors and startups, Khandu urged SHG members, PLFs, and CLFs to leverage digital platforms for their businesses. He assured full cooperation from the state government in this regard. Furthermore, Khandu proposed a training program conducted by the state government, involving renowned experts from outside the state, to educate participants on utilizing digital platforms for global marketing.
Khandu stressed the importance of rural economic empowerment for the overall development of the state. He emphasized that collaboration between the government, its agencies, and the rural populace is essential for achieving this goal. With the state’s communication network, including roads, railways, and airways, undergoing rapid improvement, Khandu highlighted the favorable conditions for sustainable growth in the rural economy.
ArSRLM, the principal agency responsible for implementing the Deendayal Antyoday-National Rural Livelihood Mission scheme, plays a crucial role in improving the socio-economic conditions of rural communities. The mission focuses on creating livelihood opportunities, empowering women, and accelerating inclusive development. ArSRLM has already reached out to the poorest households across 25 districts and 104 blocks, engaging with 85,000 households and promoting sustainable income.
Significant financial support has been provided by ArSRLM to support various initiatives. This includes a revolving fund of Rs 1025.00 lakhs for SHGs, a community investment fund of Rs 3028.00 lakhs for primary level federations, a vulnerability reduction fund of Rs 699.00 lakhs, a start-up cost of Rs 261.00 lakhs, and a seed capital of Rs. 479.36 lakhs distributed to 1245 SHG beneficiaries for enterprise activities. Additionally, 432 beneficiaries have received transport vehicles under the Arunachal Grameen Express Yojana for rural connectivity. Moreover, 2909 SHGs have accessed loans totaling Rs 3535.00 lakhs from various banks to support multiple livelihood interventions.
To promote agricultural activities, 52,000 mahila kisans have been trained under the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) scheme. Furthermore, 85 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras (VDVKs) have been established to facilitate the value chain and marketing of SHG products. The Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP) is being implemented in three pilot blocks, nurturing 186 enterprises through an entrepreneurship development program.
