HT Correspondent
NAGAON, March 5: The state regional office of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has organized a programme to celebrate the International Women’s Day, 2024 with the theme ‘Count Her In: Accelerating Gender Equality through Economic Empowerment’ in the community ground of the Dakhin Jugijan High School at Rajbari in Hojai.
In addition to local women achievers, women entrepreneurs and social activists, the programme was attended by Lachit Kr. Das, DC, Hojai, Rajendar Perna, DDM, NABARD DAO-Hojai Dr Ranjith Mishra Bhagawati, DAO, Hojai, bankers from SBI, AGVB, Hojai Unnayan Mancha (HUM) etc.
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Hojai district commissioner Lachit Kr. Das spoke about the initiatives of the central andstate governments and organisations like NABARD for the betterment of the lives of women in rural areas through implementation of various support schemes, various capacity building and skill development programmes, capital incentives, support for establishing enterprises, marketing of their products, etc.
Das said, “Under the recently launched Lakhpati Baideo Scheme, the state government envisages that the assisted women members should establish their own micro-businesses and enhance their income levels. NABARD is doing good work by organising various skill building programmes for the development of women through its supporting NGOs like Hojai Unnayan Mancha (HUM).”
During the programme, Das felicitated and distributed the mementoes as well as certificates among the local women achievers selected from varied fields like law, banker, social service, farmer, micro entrepreneur etc.
The event was organised along with valediction and certificate distribution of the Livelihood and Enterprise Development Programme (LEDP) on pearl culture and agarbati making activity, which was sponsored and supported by NABARD and implemented by HUM.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajendar Perna, DDM, NABARD extended his sincere gratitude to DC, Hojai, representatives of various line departments, bankers etc for sparing their valuable time and motivating the participants. He also congratulated all the women achievers from different fields and informed that NBAARD would continue to support the rural masses including women through its various developmental activities.
Regarding LEDPs, Perna informed the participants that the LEDPs envisage conduct of livelihood promotion programmes in clusters and includes intensive skill trainings followed by need based refresher trainings, backward-forward linkages and handholding and escort supports.
This LEDP had practical sessions on pearl culture like life cycle of mussels, production of pearls within mussels, different varieties of pearls, maintenance of pH level, mussel surgery, feeding and harvesting process and also training on agarbati making using locally available bamboo sticks, flowers/ fragrances like rose, mogra, jasmine etc. He also expressed his sincere gratitude to SBI, Hojai branch for extending financial support to 36 trainees through JLG mode of financing and shared that the trainees of this LEDP have come out with their own brand of Agarbati viz. NABAHUM, which was then ceremonially launched by the deputy commissioner.
Ranjith Mishra Bhagawati, DAO, Hojai and Rabul Saikia, have also guided the participants and praised the efforts of DDM-NABARD and secretary-HUM in organising such programmes for the development of rural women artisans and assured the support from their departments for the welfare of women entrepreneurs in rural areas.
Sujay Kr Dutta, secretary, HUM shared the efforts by the agency towards organising such events under the guidance of NABARD and requested all the participants and trainees to continue the activity and be role models for others in the society.
