Poll-bound Assam intensifies self-employment initiative for women, 15L out of 40L covered | Guwahati News
Guwahati: The BJP-led govt in Assam intensified its flagship women’s self-employment programme, disbursing Rs 10,000 in seed capital to self-help group members across all 35 districts in the state, racing against time to achieve its ambitious 40-lakh target, ahead of the upcoming assembly polls.CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said more than 15 lakh women had already received the Rs 10,000-seed capital support under the ‘Mukhya Mantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan’ (MMUA) initiative.Launched on April 1 last year, the previously announced 32-lakh target in the budget was hiked to 40 lakh, with official data claiming eight lakh women having already achieved the ‘Lakhpati’ status, strengthening household incomes and injecting vitality into the rural economy.“We are leaving no stone unturned to empower our #NariShakti and turn their dreams into reality. After Sarupathar, today 27,000+ sisters from Bokakhat received Rs 10,000 support under #MMUA. With 15 lakh+ empowered, we move closer to our dream of 40 lakh Lakhpati Baideos” or what he called, ‘Nari-preneurs,’ the CM wrote on his X handle, after a cheque distribution ceremony at Bokakhat on Tuesday.Upon successful utilization of the seed capital, each beneficiary will be eligible for a Rs 25,000 loan at a subsidized rate of interest. A third instalment of up to Rs 50,000 will be then extended to successful entrepreneurs.“From being a dependent state and importer of essential items, we are now gradually turning into a contributor state, Atmanirbhar in many aspects. With our ongoing effort to turn 40 lakh women as Lakhpati Didis, the state economy is set to receive a major boost,” the CM said.The scheme’s political undertones became sharper last Nov, when Himanta pointed out that MMUA had been adopted by the Bihar govt. Launched by PM Modi on Sept 26, Bihar’s ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana’ saw direct transfers of Rs 10,000 each into the bank accounts of 75 lakh women.“Our MMUA model of women empowerment in Assam was adopted in Bihar and became the primary talking point, turning it into a key factor in NDA’s massive mandate,” Himanta had said during the counting of votes in Bihar.According to political observers, the timing of MMUA’s rollout is crucial. With elections approaching, the govt’s focus on women — who form a decisive vote bank — is seen as a strategic move to consolidate rural and urban support. Moreover, positioning women as economic drivers, the alliance is looking to create a narrative of empowerment, which will resonate deeply across communities.Previously, on Nov 10 last year, the CM, after distributing seed capital to 23,336 women at Golakganj in Dhubri, had wrote on X, “This is a place where most of the people are not our traditional voter base, and Congress won here by 10 lakh votes in 2024. Yet for us, it’s always nation first. Today, under #MMUA, women entrepreneurs received aid — reaffirming our resolve to empower every citizen, beyond religion or politics.”Political observers further noted that the Golakganj event signalled BJP’s intention to penetrate opposition strongholds by leveraging welfare and empowerment schemes, projecting the govt as inclusive, aiming to win trust in areas where electoral margins have historically favoured their rivals.
