Latest news with #DepartmentofRuralDevelopment
The Hindu
21-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
LIC, Dept. of Rural Development ink MoU to promote Bima Sakhi yojana
Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has entered into an MoU with the Department of Rural Development, Union Ministry of Rural Development, to promote its Bima Sakhi Yojana in rural areas. Designed to help women get a foothold in insurance distribution, Bima Sakhi Yojana is a performance-oriented stipendiary LIC agency career for women in which all other benefits and privileges available for LIC agent are also extended to them. The monthly stipends is ₹7,000 in first, ₹6,000 in second and ₹5,000 in the third agency year, subject to certain terms and conditions. The MoU was signed during the national conclave on financial inclusion 'Anubhuti' organised by the Ministry in Goa earlier this month. The collaboration is to benefit rural households in improving their household income, LIC said.
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Business Standard
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Around 76,000 Indian startups are women-led: Union Minister Jitendra Singh
Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that around 76,000 start-ups in India today are women-led and a large number of them are from Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns. The Minister said that India's path to becoming a developed nation by 2047 will be led by empowered women and youth, as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi under the paradigm of Women-Led Development. Jitendra Singh was addressing the one-day conference titled "Viksit Bihar: Envisioning a Developed Bihar through Women's Participation", jointly organized by the Department of Rural Development, Government of Bihar, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi, of which Singh is the Co-Chairperson. In his address, Jitendra Singh stated that over the last 11 years, the Modi Government has focused its governance architecture around four pillars--the Poor, Farmers, Youth, and Women--with women consistently placed at the top. He said, "Women-centric governance has not only empowered individuals, but reshaped society. What began as targeted welfare has now evolved into institutional leadership." The Minister launched the Jeevika E-Learning Management System App, aimed at providing accessible learning for women, and unveiled the publication titled "Shashakt Mahila, Samriddh Bihar", which celebrates women's contributions to Bihar's progress, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions said in an official statement. Jitendra Singh elaborated on the Modi Government's structured and comprehensive approach to women's empowerment, built across four key pillars. The first phase, Access and Inclusion in Institutions, marked a historic shift in India's educational and military landscape. Girls were admitted for the first time into Sainik Schools and the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA), breaking age-old barriers. Combat roles in the armed forces were opened to women, with the country now anticipating its first woman Army Chief--an unprecedented milestone in gender-inclusive leadership, as per the ministry. The second phase, Scientific and Technological Empowerment, has empowered women through targeted schemes such as WISE (Women in Science and Engineering), GATI (Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions), CURIE, and the Women Scientist Programme. These initiatives are designed to help women re-enter STEM careers, especially after career breaks. In a focused effort, Patna Women's College in Bihar is set to be adopted under the CURIE scheme for financial and technological support, further advancing the state's leadership in women's empowerment, it added. The third phase, Economic and Social Empowerment, has witnessed a massive scale-up of women's access to financial resources. Over 48 crore Jan Dhan accounts have been opened for women, while more than 60% of Mudra Yojana beneficiaries are women entrepreneurs. The creation of over 3 crore 'Lakhpati Didis' through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) is transforming rural economies. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, homes registered in women's names are providing not just shelter but also financial and social dignity, the release added. The fourth phase, Workplace Reforms and Legal Sensitivity, has introduced compassionate and inclusive governance measures. These include six-month paid childcare leave for women in government service, pension rights extended to unmarried or divorced dependent daughters, and maternity leave provisions even after stillbirths--demonstrating a humane and progressive legal framework that places women's needs at the center of policymaking, as per the release. Jitendra Singh reiterated that these four pillars collectively represent the Modi Government's unwavering commitment to making women not just beneficiaries, but leaders of India's growth story. Jitendra Singh emphasised that Indian women are no longer passive participants, but strategic leaders across fields like space, civil services, and innovation."From Chandrayaan-3's Kalpana to Aditya-L1's Nigar Shaji, women have led India's space glory," he noted. The Minister also highlighted that the first-ever woman Director General now heads CSIR, with over one-third of CSIR laboratories across India led by women scientists--marking a significant shift in the scientific leadership landscape. India now hosts 1.7 lakh startups, with around 76,000 led by women, generating over 17 lakh jobs, Singh revealed. These are not just urban phenomena--Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, including smaller towns in Bihar, are emerging as hotbeds of women-led innovation. "This silent revolution is rewriting India's future, led by first-generation women entrepreneurs, researchers, and policy-makers," he said. Jitendra Singh commended Bihar for its pioneering reforms in advancing women's empowerment, highlighting initiatives such as 50% reservation for women in Panchayats and urban local bodies, and 35% reservation in the state police and civil services. He noted that over 30 lakh women in Bihar have been financially empowered through targeted schemes, with cumulative support exceeding Rs 5,000 crore. Singh urged the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA) to document Bihar's successful women-centric governance model into a replicable manual, so that other states across the country can draw inspiration and implement similar transformative reforms. Concluding his remarks, Jitendra Singh called for a fundamental shift in the national mindset, emphasizing that "it is no longer about women's participation--it is about women-led development. The future belongs to women who lead, not just follow." He reaffirmed that the vision of Viksit Bharat@2047 will be realized with women at the forefront--in laboratories, legislation, leadership, and everyday life--paving the way for a truly inclusive and aspirational India. The event was also attended by Giriraj Singh, Union Minister for Textiles; Rajiv Ranjan Singh, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying; and Shravan Kumar, Bihar's Minister for Rural Development, SN Tripathi DG IIPA, Himanshu Sharma, CEO Jeevika Mission, Pratyay Amrit, Development Commissioner, Bihar and other senior officials.
New Indian Express
19-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
76,000 women-led startups across India, including small towns in Bihar: Union Minister Jitendra Singh
NEW DELHI: "Women-led development is needed for all-round development of the country," asserted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a speech not too long ago. The country now has over 1.7 lakh startups, with approximately 76,000 of them led by women. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology Dr Jitendra Singh on Saturday highlighted this achievement, stating that these 1.7 lakh startups, including the 76,000 led by women, are generating over 17 lakh jobs. 'These are not just urban phenomena—Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, including smaller towns in Bihar, are emerging as hotbeds of women-led innovation. This silent revolution is rewriting India's future, led by first-generation women entrepreneurs, researchers, and policy-makers,' Dr Singh said. He was speaking at a one-day conference titled 'Viksit Bihar: Envisioning a Developed Bihar through Women's Participation' jointly organised by the Department of Rural Development, Government of Bihar, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi, of which Dr Singh is the Co-Chairperson. He stated that India's journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047 would be led by empowered women and youth, in line with Prime Minister Modi's vision under the paradigm of Women-Led Development. Dr Singh emphasised that over the past 11 years, the Modi government has focused its governance around four pillars—the Poor, Farmers, Youth, and Women. He remarked, 'Women-centric governance has not only empowered individuals, but reshaped society. What began as targeted welfare has now evolved into institutional leadership."
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Business Standard
08-07-2025
- General
- Business Standard
UP govt to plant more than 125 million saplings under MGNREGA scheme
The Uttar Pradesh government is set to plant more than 125 million saplings in the state under the MGNREGA scheme following the directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. According to the state government, the aim is not only to enhance greenery but also to generate large-scale rural employment. This year's plantation drive will be carried out under the theme 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0', blending ecological responsibility with emotional and cultural sentiment by encouraging people to dedicate a tree to their mothers, it said. The highest 4.2 million saplings would be planted in Lakhimpur Kheri, followed by Sonbhadra and Hardoi. A total of 189,000 plantation sites have been identified across the state, with plant species selected based on local climatic and geographical conditions. The initiative ensures that plantation efforts are sustainable and tailored to each location. In a special move to promote nutrition and health, each beneficiary of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Rural) will receive two drumstick (Moringa) saplings, known for their medicinal and nutritional value. This effort aims to enhance nutritional security for rural families, the official statement said. The Department of Rural Development has been given the lead in implementing the campaign. The success of the campaign will not be measured by plantation numbers alone, but by the survival and growth of the saplings. For this, arrangements for regular watering, tree guards, maintenance, and monitoring will be made under MGNREGA, the statement said.
New Indian Express
06-07-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Sapling drive launched on Palar River bank in Vellore
VELLORE: As part of an ongoing green initiative, District Collector V R Subbulaxmi on Saturday inaugurated a project to plant 2,000 saplings along a one-kilometre stretch on the banks of the Palar river at Agaramcheri in Gudiyattam. The initiative falls under the district administration's plan to develop mini forests ranging from two to fifteen acres on government poramboke lands — including grazing lands, barren lands without ownership disputes (such as hills), and riverbeds — across taluks such as Kaniyambadi, Anaicut, Katpadi, KV Kuppam, Gudiyattam, and Pernambut. On the occasion of World Environment Day on June 5, the district administration had launched a large-scale afforestation drive, planting 35,000 saplings across Vellore district. Of these, 2,000 were planted in Kaniyambadi taluk, 1,000 in Anaicut, 2,000 in Katpadi, 1,000 in KV Kuppam, 1,000 in Pernambut, and 1,000 in Gudiyattam — totalling 8,000 saplings on that day alone. The collector has instructed officials to ensure the maintenance of the saplings for a period of one year, to be carried out by workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), in coordination with the Department of Rural Development.
