Mahila Shakti Kendra ‘PIND-DAAN’ Counter at GPO, Shimla

PIND DAAN Counter at GPO Shimla in a bid to empower rural women, chief minister Jai Ram Thakur inaugurated the Mahila Shakti Kendra Counter at the general post office, Shimla.

At the counter, products made by women self-help groups (SHGs) will be showcased and sold. The initiative is part of the state’s rural livelihood mission.

Speaking on the occasion, CM said the state government has taken several steps to stabilise the rural economy and empower women during the Covid-19 pandemic by starting Mahila Shakti Kendras at its main post offices, under the joint aegis of state rural livelihood mission, rural development department and the Indian postal department.

Himachal CM unveils sales counter for local products made by rural women in Shimla. Thakur said handmade products by rural women would be available for sale at these counters, and the money would be transferred to the SHGs through direct benefit.

He said this would not only strengthen the economy of women folk, but also encourage use of local products among the masses and would realise Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s idea of self-reliance.

Mahila Shakti Kendra ‘PIND-DAAN’ counter unveiled at GPO Shimla. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday inaugurated “Mahila Shakti Kendra Counter” at General Post Office here on Thursday to showcase and sell products prepared by Women Self Help Groups under National Rural Livelihood Mission of State Rural Development Department.

The Chief Minister said that “PIND DAAN” Counter at GPO Shimla will promote the “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan” launched by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi was playing an important role in stabilizing rural economy of the country and the state during Covid-19 pandemic. He said that Rural Development department of Himachal Pradesh has also taken several steps in this direction. Starting of Mahila Shakti Kendras in the main post offices of the state under joint aegis of Himachal Pradesh State Rural Livelihoods Mission, Rural Development Department, Himachal Pradesh and Indian Postal Department was a step towards women empowerment.

Thakur said that handmade products prepared by self help groups would be available for sale at these Counters. Any self-help group formed under the Rural Development Department, through Himachal Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission, can sell their goods at these sales counters. After the sale, the money would be transferred to the SHGs through direct benefit, he added.

He said that this would not only strengthen the economy of the women folk but also encourage the local products amongst the masses and would realize the dream of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi ‘Vocal for Local’ into reality which was a step towards self reliant. He said the state government had also initiated various schemes for the promoting traditional products of the State. He said that this would not only provide employment opportunities to the women within their homes but also upgrade their socio-economic condition.

Urban Development Minister Suresh Bhardwaj, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Minister Virender Kanwar, Health Minister Dr. Rajiv Saizal, Secretary Rural Development Dr Sandeep Bhatnagar, Director Rural Development Lalit Jain, Chief Post Master General Meera Ranjan Tshering were also present on the occasion among others.