To empower the Girl Child and Self Help Groups, Punjab Governor and UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit on Monday launched an innovative joint initiative of Municipal Corporation Chandigarh & Bharat Vikas Parishad namely ‘Bitiya Card’ here.
Addressing the gathering, the Governor appreciated the effort of Municipal Corporation Chandigarh and BVP for this joint initiative to launch ‘Bitiya Card’ under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM). He said that both organizations have mutually planned to work extensively at the grass-root level so that identified beneficiaries under DAY NULM can get benefit in terms of their health, well-being, and socio-cultural upliftment aspects through holistic development by providing financial support towards continuing their education in case of dropouts, organizing mass marriages among poor and marginalized community and other aspects evolved concerning community need assessment.
Anup Gupta, city Mayor said that to be specific, both organizations have come forward under the campaign ‘Beti Bachao Bet Padhao’ to extend support to the members of SHGs and their girl child including Free Education and support to girl child till 10+2; Free Blood and Urine Check-up, X-ray, Ultra Sound and consultation with super-specialist medical practitioners and organizing Twice Mass Marriages function for the eligible girl child of the SHG members.
He said that the joint initiative between Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh and Bharat Vikas Parishad will go a long way in evolving an effective community-based and intervention-based partnership model towards socio-economic empowerment and a healthy community.
Earlier Anindita Mitra, Commissioner Municipal Corporation, shared information about the scheme elaborating that Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs being implemented by Municipal Corporation, Chandigarh. Social Mobilization and institutional Development (SM&ID) is one of the components of DAY-NULM, the objective of which shall rest on the foundation that the mobilization of urban poor households to form their institutions is an important investment for an effective and sustainable poverty reduction program.
She said that under the Social Mobilization & Institutional Development (SM&ID) component, Municipal Corporation Chandigarh has mobilized more than 5000 urban poor women including marginalized section of community to date into 530 plus Self Help Groups under the network of 19 Area Level Federations in the city.
