MUMBAI, Feb 9: Union Commerce Minister Suresh
Prabhu Saturday launched a scheme with an objective to provide
a platform for women Self Help Groups (SHGs), and a
competition to boost entrepreneurship at the district level in
Maharashtra.
The scheme, ‘Hirkani Maharashtrachi’, and ‘District
Business Plan Competition’ will be driven by the Maharashtra
State Innovation Society (MSInS), which comes under the state
departments of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, with
execution support from the respective districts.
Addressing Collectors of all 36 districts of
Maharashtra through a video conference, Prabhu said, “Under
the ‘Hirkani Maharashtrachi’, women’s SHGs will pitch their
business plan at taluka level”.
Ministers of State, district guardian ministers, MPs,
MLAs and Zilla Parishad presidents from respective places also
attended the video conference.
“Altogether 10 groups will be selected from each
taluka and Rs 50,000 will be given to each SHG to implement
their idea while five SHGs at district level will be selected
and Rs 2 lakh will be given to each SHG to take the idea
forward,” the Union minister said, adding that the scheme will
be completely backed by the Central government.
He also underlined the importance of women’s
participation in implementing the scheme.
According to a legend, ‘Hirkani’ was a milkmaid who
lived at the base of the Raigad fort during the times of
Chhatrapati Shivaji. She is known for climbing down the
vertical Raigad cliff to breastfed her baby.
Under the District Business Plan Competition,
competitors at district level will pitch ideas, out of which
five ideas will be selected from agriculture, social service,
education and miscellaneous categories, and work order worth
Rs 5 lakh will be given to the five selected ideas, Prabhu
said.
He said such ideas could not be materialised in the
past due to lack of funding and platforms.
“Through these schemes and competition, the best ideas
will be shortlisted and such entrepreneurs will be given work
order by the government,” he said.
Assuring the Centre’s support for the programme,
Prabhu said the winners of the District Business Plan
competition will get a chance to interact with Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President
Venkaiah Naidu. (PTI)
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