The Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Shri Giriraj Singh launched the ‘SAMARTH Campaign on Promoting Digital Transactions in 50000 Gram Panchayats’ under the Amrit Mahotsav in Lucknow today. The Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India is running a “Samarth Campaign on Promoting Digital Transactions in 50,000 Gram Panchayats” which started on 1st February 2023 and will continue till 15th August 2023 under the AzadiKaAmritMahotsav. The key thrust of the Samarthcampaign is to promote Digital Transactions in rural areas, particularly focusing on women.
Launching the Campaign, the Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Shri Giriraj Singh, lauded Self-Help Group’s NPA coming down from 9.58 % in 2014 per cent to below 2% now under the inspirational leadership of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and urged banks to recognize and outstanding credit performance of SHG Didis and facilitate loans for them in line of their splendid performance. Acknowledging the contribution of BC Sakhis in the new digital economy with India emerging as number 1 under PM Modi’s visionary initiatives, Minister added that India is setting global examples in women empowerment too.
Addressing the occasion, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath highlighted that with the digital transformation brought about by BC Sakhis in Uttar Pradesh alone to the tune of 5 Crore 57 lakh transactions, the BC Sakhi’s have not only served such a vast population including the last mile with doorstep banking but also helped resources of banks to save costs on low volume transactions within their premises. In the digital Gram Sachivalays being created by Govt of UP in villages, each will have a provision of offering services of Bank Sakhis too, said the Chief Minister.
Congratulating the BC Sakhis for showcasing their ‘Samarthya’, Minister of State for Rural Development, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti said that the women of India are an all-rounder who not only manage the kitchen but have also taken banks to the doorsteps of an underserved citizen in every corner of the country.
Recognising the contribution of BC Sakhis, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri K P Maurya stated that with increased earnings, BC Sakhis have earned an honourable place not only within their homes but in the society too and this transformation is helping empowerment of women in villages of India.
The event was joined by the Minister of State for Rural Development and Steel, Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste in online mode. Smt. Vijay Laxmi Gautam, Minister of State for Rural Development Minister, Govt of UP also graced the event.
Welcoming the dignitaries, the Secretary, of the Ministry of Rural Development, Shri Shailesh Kumar Singh briefed about the # SAMARTH campaign and the milestones which are set as well as being achieved under this by Deendayal Antyodaya Yojna- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) under the Ministry of Rural Development
The event was also attended by Agriculture Production Commissioner, Govt of UP, Shri Manoj Kumar Singh, Additional Secretary Rural Livelihoods, Ministry of Rural Development, Shri Charanjit Singh, Director, Rural Livelihoods, Ministry of Rural Development, Shri Raghvendra Pratap Singh and other senior officials from Government of India and Government of Uttar Pradesh. Senior Bankers and other stakeholders too joined the event.
The event witnessed the unveiling of a compendium of 75 Inspirational Tales of BC Sakhis along with live testimonies of transformations in the lives of BC Sakhis who narrated before the August gathering their stories of success. On this occasion, Biometric PoS machines were also distributed to BC Sakhis and appointment letters were handed over to the newly appointed BC Sakhis.
Around 1000 BC Sakhis from all over India participated in the event at Lucknow. State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs) and other stakeholders from all over India joined the event through a webcast and the event was live-streamed on social media.
Disclaimer: This is an official press release by pib.