Maharashtra tops in covering non-loanee farmers under PMFBY; and CSCs have been credited for this achievement.
Seventy-two per cent of Maharastra’s farmers insured under the Centre’s flagship crop insurance scheme come under the non-loanee segment. The figure, for kharif 2018, is the highest in the country.
A total of 86.17 lakh of the State’s farmers were insured under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) between July and September, which corresponds to the kharif season. Non-loanee farmers are those who do not avail any agricultural loans.The success of the programme is being attributed to the mobilisation by Common Service Centres (CSCs).
Common Services Centers, through its initiative for women’s health and hygiene, named ‘Stree Swabhiman’ is striving to create a sustainable model for providing affordable and accessible sanitary products close to the homes of adolescent girls and women. The initiative is driven by awareness and personalized outreach by women entrepreneurs who produce and market sanitary napkins themselves. The initiative aspires to play its part in reducing gender divide in access to development opportunities for girls and women which sadly affects access to education, health and workforce participation.
Under Stree Swabhiman initiative for women’s health and hygiene, women entrepreneurs have become symbols of empowerment for women and girls in their communities. Till date, 278 Sanitary Pad Manufacturing Units have been successfully set up by these VLEs. The sanitary napkins produced by these units not only suit the needs of low-income communities, but are also bio-degradable and thus environment friendly. Besides, these are made easily accessible to rural communities. Apart from boosting women’s health and hygiene, this initiative also provides employment opportunities to women in rural communities as each facility employs 8-10 women. Besides this, women VLEs also create awareness, access and affordability.
In furtherance the objective of women health and hygiene, CSC SPV has installed Sanitary Napkin Vending Machines in MeitY Women Restrooms. This will benefit women employees availing Sanitary Pads in the ministry. Based on the success and learning of this initiative, further similar vending machines will be installed at the other Public and Private institutes.
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