Efforts towards increasing income of poor in Jharkhand

There are still many states in the country that are behind the average rate of growth and whose GDP is significantly below the projected target. Jharkhand figures prominently in this category.

Poverty is a curse in this state which is dominated by tribals and scheduled tribes. For many years in the formation of the state, unstable governments have removed all signs development from Jharkhand.

Despite the abundance of natural resources, employment here is a major problem; on the other hand, indiscriminate exploitation of resources has made the problem even more serious. But the efforts of the stable government to achieve a significant growth rate have not only enhanced the possibilities of self-employment, but also made it easier to achieve the goal of sustainable development.

Scheduled caste and tribal villages of Jharkhand are now seeing changes. This change is happening at many levels. Now, a new saga of development has started in this state. Efforts have been made to promote self-employment, especially for the poor.

Innovative experiments of village development are being done in the state. The State Government is launching special programs for providing permanent and sustainable development to the villagers through the village Swaraj campaign.

252 villages of scheduled castes in 21 districts of the state have been identified, wherein special benefits are being provided for 7 flagship schemes of the Center by running special campaigns. In line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Niti Aayog, the government has been given the direction to make policies in relation to poverty eradication and employment by the year 2030.

According to the SDGs approved by the United Nations; SDG 1 clearly states we should end poverty in all its forms everywhere. Target 1.1 states that by 2030, eradicate extreme poverty for all people everywhere - currently measured as people living on less than USD 1.25 a day, and target 1.2 states that by 2030, reduce at least by half, the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.

In this race of development, the state government has taken special care of half the population i.e. women. Employment opportunities are being provided by creating self-help groups to make them self-reliant. Jharkhand State Livelihood Promoting Society is providing various types of employment by educating poor women in the state. So far 1,33,000 self-help groups of women have been formed in 24 districts of the state, which have been linked to the Micro Credit Livelihood Plan.

Women from 15,836 villages of 2,723 panchayats in 217 blocks of the state are doing their job by learning the latest methods of goat rearing, pig farming, fish farming and land cultivation.

In the local language, the groups are named as follows - Champa Baha SHG Group, Gulab SHG Group, Toba Baha Group, Akhil Mashaal Group. One of the women of the group, Sonny Hembrum points out that now women are moving away from the traditional farming systems and adopting the new and modern farming system of crop integration. They are not using urea and DAP fertilizers in their farms.

Sonali Tud said that women members of SHG Group do transactions among themselves. They say that they take loans from the group fund to start their enterprise, which they later return. Women are increasing their income from sewing mills, incense sticks and small shops of low capital.

Nisha Devi, chairperson of the Rani of Jhansi SHG Group of Chorkheda Panchayat of Jarmundi block of Dumka district, points out that in a village there are 8 groups, together with it we build the organization which later becomes the federation.

300 women of the village are working on Agarbatti. Some women groups are making solar lamps.

The government is promoting small and cottage industries in the state. The women group of the Shikaripara block is raising its income by making Hawaii slippers.

Women of SHG groups are being trained for self-employment, which is making them self-confident. Several schemes are being implemented for enhancing their participation and enhancing the income.

Anita Aaron who was earlier working as a midwife, is now earning well by driving an auto-rickshaw.

Due to positive thinking of the government, women are increasing their income through production of spices, dairy products and goat rearing. Government has opened the employment opportunities for the first time in 16 years in Jharkhand.

Medium and Small Enterprises have been given priority; the overall development of the state has increased the steps towards ending poverty. Proper development opportunities are being provided in the state. The state has immense potential for development. Plans have been made keeping in mind the goal of growth of every woman.

Pre-farm women groups investigate their soil; their income is growing in the form of horticulture, animal husbandry, and poultry. Thousands of tribal families are gaining financially through this medium. The government is now purchasing Imli, Mahua, Chironji, Karanj, Bair, Jamun, Biju, Mango and Amla directly from the tribal families living in the jungles, thereby increasing their income.

Government has encouraged the people of the village to prepare development framework for development of every poor house of the state by 2030. Village development committees have been formed in all the villages, women SHG groupsare being provided financial assistance. Gram Swaraj Abhiyan is a ray of hope in villages; it is to fulfill the women's empowerment and their basic needs at the core of Gram Swaraj Abhiyan. Today, Jharkhand has become the source of inspiration for other states of the country.

The views expressed in the above article are that of Shailendra Sinha of Charkha Development Communication Network.

--ANI