BMC accelerates women empowerment process

While government speaks of women empowerment in different forums and its field level implementation; the same has become a niche for Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC). Enduring effort of the city authority has involved women in development initiatives to create space for their income generation thereby promoting empowerment.

BMC has ensured women’s participation  in sanitation, protection of environment, beautification, construction, revenue collection and recreation activities; said Mayor, BMC Sulochana Das.

To reduce the gap of disparity with regards to income and to provide earning opportunity, women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Area Level Federations (ALFs) of Mission Shakti are treated as implementation partners in different projects. This is an indicator of empowerment; she added. 

Mukhya Mantri Karma Tatpara Aviyan  (MUKTA), a flag ship  program in the state, its  implementation in BMC  has involved 623 SHGs . MUKTA’s rainwater harvesting project has 3,083 implementations involving  more than 500 SHGs as its implementation partners. Other projects include roadside open air gym, parking space development, walkway development, playground and renovation of ponds.

 SHGs have been awarded work order as implementation partners. This has become the empowerment process boosting women’s financial literacy and income generation.

Women’s participation in sanitation has led the urban civilization. Micro-composting Centers ( MCCs) and Material Recovery Facilities ( MRFs)are  functional since last year. A total of 117 SHGs and five Area Level Federations are deployed to promote and manage the units as Swcha Sathis and Swachha Karmis. Presently, more than 600 women are managing the units.

 On the other hand, SHGs also manage Colony Parks. Out of 77 parks, 40 are run by women SHGs. In addition, 67 SHGs  are in charge of  revenue collection and other 67 groups  do the work of Jala sathi.  It is even a matter of joy that they are involved in the management of the faecal sludge treatment plant and collection of electricity bills. they are also involved in Aahar centre management.

As per data, about 1000 SHGs being implementation partners in different projects have contributed to their  family income.

BMC has 5,032 registered Women SHG  groups. Of these, 3,757 have already received revolving fund of rupees ten thousand each. Various business loans have been disbursed to 3658 groups through bank connectivity that has promoted entrepreneurship and self-reliance among the group members.