scheme: OfficialShillong, Jan 13 (PTI) A large number of women inMeghalaya have received Rs 5000 as seed money under theWomenÂ’s economic empowerment through financial inclusionscheme, a senior official of Community and Rural Developmentdepartment (CnRD) said today.
The scheme was launched by Chief Minister Mukul Sangmaearlier this month targeting to benefit about four lakhwomen-headed families.
Following the launch, thousands of eligiblebeneficiaries were given the Rs 5000 cheque countersigned bythe Block Development Officers, the senior CnRD official toldPTI.
Meanwhile, National People's Party (NPP) spokespersonJames K Sangma lauded the scheme which aims to empower womenbut he questioned its timing and the finance part of thescheme.
"Why did the government waste five years to take theprogramme out? I have also learnt that the government is undersevere financial crisis but it is at the same timedistributing freebies in the form of money," James told PTI.
State BJP president Shibun Lyngdoh also expressedsimilar views.
"You are aware they (government) have not doneanything in the period they ruled the state for 15 years. ...
Our voters are smart and you cannot fool them all the time,"he said.
Four months ago, Independent legislator Saleng ASangma had petitioned the Governor about the scheme allegingit was more of a burden than an empowerment for women folks.
"What is happening is that MGNREGS wages deposited inthe bank accounts of the women folks are being deducted torepay the loans which they have never taken," Saleng alleged.
Defending his decision to roll out the scheme whichaimed at financially empowering women, the chief minister hassaid, "The mandate for the government is for five years.
Constitutionally and legally, the government is bound to workand every hour and every minute counts."Denying that it is a political gimmick, he said thestate government has also undertaken large-scale socialmobilisation to make potential beneficiaries aware of theschemes for a very long time and BDOs are working on whoshould be the beneficiaries. PTI JOPRG.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.