BMC Accelerates Women Empowerment By Making Mission Shakti SHGs Implementing Partners Of Different Projects

Bhubaneswar: With its commitment to empowerment of women at all levels, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation has made it an essential point to involve women members of Self Help Groups as implementation partners in many of its developmental projects. The municipal body has ensured that the women members under the aegis of Mission Shakti, participate in sanitation, protection of environment, beautification, construction, revenue collection and recreation activities.

Speaking about the participation of women in BMC activities, Mayor Sulochana Das says that the BMC has ensured women’s participation in sanitation, protection of environment, beautification, construction, revenue collection and recreation activities. To reduce the gap of disparity with regards to income and to provide earning opportunity, female Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Area Level Federations (ALFs) of Mission Shakti are treated as implementation partners in different projects. This is an indicator of empowerment, she added.

The Mukhya Mantri Karma Tatpara Aviyan (MUKTA), a flagship program in the state, has involved 623 SHGs for its implementation by BMC. MUKTA’s rainwater harvesting project has 3,083 number of implementations involving more than 500 SHGs as its implementation partners. Other projects include roadside open air gym, parking space development, walkway development, playground and renovation of ponds.

The SHGs have been awarded work orders as implementation partners. This has become the empowerment process boosting women’s financial security and income generation. Micro-composting Centers ( MCCs) and Material Recovery Facilities ( MRFs) of the BMC are functional since last year. A total of 117 SHGs and five Area Level Federations are deployed to promote and manage the units as Swcha Sathis and Swachha Karmis. Presently, more than 600 women are managing the units.

On the other hand, SHGs also manage Colony Parks. Out of 77 parks, 40 are run by women SHGs. In addition, 67 SHGs are in charge of revenue collection and other 67 groups do the work of Jala Sathis. It is even a matter of pride that they are involved in the management of fecal sludge treatment plant and collection of electricity bills.

As per data, about 1000 SHGs have been made implementation partners in different projects which has contributed to their family income.

BMC has 5,032 registered Women SHG groups. Of these, 3,757 have already received revolving funds of rupees ten thousand each. Various business loans have also been disbursed to 3658 groups through bank connectivity that has promoted entrepreneurship and self-reliance among the group members.

Besides, BMC’s Safaigadi initiative (waste collection vehicle) has engaged about 300 women drivers and supporting staff (swachhakarmis) through implementing partners. Equal importance is given to involve transgender groups in different development initiatives.