Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant today firmly stated that the holistic empowerment of rural women, the creation of sustainable livelihoods, and the promotion of green energy are the top priorities of the State Government. Under the women entrepreneurship campaign “Har Ghar Udyam, Har Gaon Samriddh,” he flagged off vehicles operated in the name of women for business purposes under the Aajeevika Gramin Express Yojana.
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This initiative will enable members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in rural areas to start passenger and goods transport services, ensuring a stable and regular source of income while strengthening last-mile connectivity in remote regions. At present, 48 vehicles are operational across 8 blocks, and an additional 24 vehicles will soon be deployed in the remaining 4 blocks, ensuring comprehensive implementation of the scheme across Goa.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister also launched the awareness and publicity campaign for the PM Surya Ghar – Har Ghar Bijli scheme and felicitated the Goa Solar Power Association. Outstanding Lakhpati Didis, Chief Minister’s Lakhpati Didis, SHGs, and other stakeholders associated with various schemes were honoured for their contribution to rural economic empowerment.
The Chief Minister stated that under the solar energy initiative, the Government and the concerned contractors will jointly undertake responsibility for the maintenance of the installed solar panels for the next 30 years. He emphasised that collaboration among all stakeholders is essential to build an energy self-reliant Goa.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Net Zero Emission vision, he said that renewable energy has become the cornerstone of the country’s energy policy and that Goa is fully aligned with this national direction. He reiterated the State’s firm commitment to building a clean, sustainable, and energy-secure future.
The national campaign “Promoting Rural Women Entrepreneurship: Har Ghar Udyam, Har Gaon Samriddh” under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission was also launched during the programme. The primary objective of this campaign is to economically empower rural women through structured entrepreneurship in the trade, manufacturing, and service sectors and to create Lakhpati Didis.
Under the campaign, Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) will be transformed into Enterprise Resource Centres (ERCs), which will provide comprehensive support, including training, business planning, legal registration, financial assistance, market linkages, and mentorship for women entrepreneurs. The State has set a target to develop 250 enterprise cadres and provide entrepreneurship training to 28,000 SHG members by June 2026.
On this occasion, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Goa State Rural Livelihoods Mission and the Goa State Co-operative Bank to provide accessible, structured, and affordable credit facilities to SHG women aspiring to become Lakhpati Didis. Under the Chief Minister Mahila Lakhpati Nidhi Yojana (MMLNY), loans of up to ₹1,00,000 will be made available. Goa has become the first State in the country to design a dedicated loan product for women.
Highlighting that Goa is a tourism-driven State, the Chief Minister noted that women have immense opportunities in sectors such as food processing, handicrafts, services, tourism-related enterprises, and industries based on local resources. He urged women to actively participate in these sectors.
Union Minister Shri Shripad Naik, Power Minister Shri Sudin Dhavalikar, NRI Commissioner Shri Narendra Sawaikar, senior officials from various departments, and other dignitaries were present at the programme.
In his concluding remarks, the Chief Minister reaffirmed the State Government’s commitment to bringing rural women into leadership roles in the economy and building a self-reliant, prosperous, and sustainable Goa.
He reiterated that “Har Ghar Udyam, Har Gaon Samriddh-Enterprise in every home, prosperity in every village” is the guiding vision for inclusive development in the State.
