Assam's Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan

• 17 Jan 2024

Source: HT

Why in News?

Recently, the Assam government introduced the Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan (MMUA), a financial support scheme aimed at empowering rural women entrepreneurs.

• This initiative carries unique conditions, particularly focusing on the number of children women can have to qualify for the benefits.

What are the Major Points Related to the MMUA Scheme?

• Objectives of MMUA Scheme: The MMUA scheme is designed to foster the development of rural women who are part of self-help groups, transforming them into "rural micro-entrepreneurs" with a target annual income of Rs 1 lakh per member.
• Child Limitations:
  • General and OBC women: Limited to three children to qualify for the scheme.
  • STs and SCs: Allowed up to four children to avail benefits.
  • Moran, Motok, and 'Tea Tribes': Subject to a four-child cap.
• Additional Conditions for Beneficiaries: In addition to child limitations, beneficiaries must fulfil two other conditions:
  • Education of Girl Children: If beneficiaries have girl children, they must be enrolled in school.
    • For non-school-going age girls, a signed undertaking for future enrollment is required.
  • Tree Plantation Drive: Beneficiaries must ensure that trees planted under the government's tree plantation drive, Amrit Brikshya Andolan, are surviving.

Note

Approximately 5 lakh women from the 39 lakh involved in rural self-help groups may be excluded due to child limitations.

What are the Indian Government Initiatives Related to Women Entrepreneurship?

• Women Entrepreneurship Platform: It is a first-of-its-kind, unified access portal which brings together women from different parts of India to realize their entrepreneurial aspirations. It is an initiative of NITI Aayog.
• Mudra Yojana: This scheme provides microloans to women entrepreneurs for starting or expanding their businesses
• Stand up India Scheme: It aims at promoting entrepreneurship among women and scheduled castes and tribes.
• Mahila Coir Yojana: It is being implemented by the Coir Board for the empowerment of women artisans in the coir sector with an aim to provide self-employment opportunities to rural women artisans.

UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question:

Prelims:

Q. Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana is aimed at (2016)

(a) bringing the small entrepreneurs into formal financial system

(b) providing loans to poor farmers for cultivating particular crops

(c) providing pensions to old and destitute persons

(d) funding the voluntary organisations involved in the promotion of skill development and employment generation

Ans: (a)

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Mains:

Q. ‘’Empowering women is the key to control the population growth.’’ Discuss (2019)

Q. “Though women in post-Independent India have excelled in various fields, the social attitude towards women and feminist movement has been patriarchal.” Apart from women education and women empowerment schemes, what interventions can help change this milieu? (2021)