Positive results were achieved in Chhattisgarh on instructions given by the Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai to the State’s Forest Department to work on the improvement of economic conditions of women through various schemes and programs.
Instructions were also given to make sure that the women receive training and financial assistance to encourage their active participation in forest and livelihood activities, the statement said.
The Chattisgarh Forest Department paved the way for the economic empowerment of the villagers by involving them in forest conservation and management.
Additionally, the Joint Forest Management formed by the local villagers has been playing an important role in forest conservation and has been provided training by the Forest Department to improve the livelihood of the people dependent on forests, the release said.
Additionally, the Maa Mahamaya Self-Help Group (SHG) in the State, comprising 11 women from Madai, a small village in the Marwahi Forest Division has transformed a simple agro-forestry initiative into a flourishing economic enterprise.
In 2018-19, the group had planted 2,000 trees under the Green India Mission in order to enhance green cover, improve soil moisture conservation and provide sustainable employment opportunities to the local community, the statement said.
Later, in 2022-23, the SHG earned seven lakh rupees by selling 4,203 kg of mangoes in the local markets and in Bilaspur.
With the money earned and inspired by their success, the group has been planning to purchase e-rickshaws for the transportation of their cultivation, as per the release.
The SHG President Meera Bai expressed her gratitude to the Forest Department for their continuous support and said that with the help of the Forest Department, the group has been able to cultivate high-quality mangoes and vegetables, which has helped in the significant increase and empowerment of the women in the group.
Further, she added that new employment opportunities have been created in the surrounding villages, which has helped in elevating the standard of living of the women, as per the release.