Uttarakhand: Irregularities in Chief Minister Women Sustainable Livelihood Scheme?

In the capital Doon, the government’s ambitious Uttarakhand Mukhyamantri Mahila Sustainable Ajeevika Yojana is under question. There is a possibility of irregularities in the scheme. Even after several years of training in this scheme started to provide employment to women, the beneficiaries have not yet received a grant of Rs 50,000. This is the reason why eligible women are forced to make rounds of the Women Empowerment and Child Development Department and the concerned NGO for the grant for the last three years. Whereas, the department says that the money has been given to the NGO. Even a reminder has been sent regarding this. In such a situation, questions are being raised as to where did the lakhs of rupees of the grant go. A report

Grant not received even after 3 years

Actually, the matter is of Raipur block of Doon district. Where the beneficiary women are to be given a grant of up to Rs 50,000 under the Chief Minister Sustainable Ajeevika Yojana. For this, about 300 women were also given training in Bajet, Sirki, Ramnagar Danda, Meedawala, Dudhiyawala and Dandi areas of Raipur block adjoining Doon city. Under the scheme, dairy and beekeeping were to be done. For this, the work was assigned to the NGO Devbhoomi Foundation selected by the government. Under this, the NGO also gave training to the selected women eligible in the year 2022. After this, 100 women were to be engaged in dairy farming in Maldevta area and 200 women in Thano area were to be engaged in beekeeping. But, even after 3 years of training, the scheme could not be implemented.

Where did the grant of Rs 50,000 each go?

According to the scheme, for training, a group of 25-25 women was formed by the NGO and training was given from one week to one month in 2022. But, till now the funds have not been received to buy a cow. In such a situation, now many beneficiaries are alleging that either the departmental officers are lying or the NGO is doing fraud. Despite this, the beneficiaries are still hopeful about getting the money.

On-site inspection report sought

It is being told that 97 NGOs were selected across the state under the Uttarakhand Mukhyamantri Mahila Sustainable Livelihood Scheme. It is also being told that in this regard, a letter was issued to 9 NGOs by State Project Officer Mohit Chaudhary on 22 April 2025. In which a on-site inspection report has been sought regarding the grant to be given to the beneficiaries.

Reminder sent to these 9 NGOs

• Poushtik Gramodyog Sanstha, Premnagar, Dehradun
• Devbhoomi Foundation, Subhash Road, Dehradun
• Lokpriya Seva Samiti, Haridwar
• Environment and Public Welfare Committee, US Nagar
• Import, Udham Singh Nagar
• Institute of Social Development, US Nagar
• Mahila Prerna and Utthan Samiti, Almora
• Paharvatiya Mahila Kalyan Samiti, Pithoragarh
• Rural Area Development Committee, Tehri Garhwal

Training done, nothing received

Raindra Singh, Pradhan of Ramnagar Danda, Raipur, said that the NGO gave training to the women of the area in March 2022, but till date neither cows have been given nor beekeeping has been started. If money was made available, the beneficiary would have bought the animal herself. If the benefits of the scheme are not received even after three-four years, then what is its justification. Many women did not buy cows for the sake of grant. They are suffering huge losses. Aarti Khanna of Baijat Maldevta, Geetika Saklani of Asthal, Raveena Panwar and Vinesh of Sherki also say that the government should run the schemes seriously, women should not be exploited by running schemes only for the sake of name.

So is this the condition of the scheme in the state?

If experts are to be believed, this is the reality only of Raipur block of Doon. Such possibilities cannot be ruled out in the entire state. In such a situation, this scheme is coming under question. Experts say that when the benefits of such an important scheme of the government cannot be achieved even in three to four years, then how will the livelihood of women improve.

Eligibility and benefits of the scheme

• The beneficiary should be from the destitute, widow and weaker section.
• The age of the woman should be between 18 years to 50 years.
• Should be a native of Uttarakhand state.
• The beneficiary should not be benefited from the same business from any other scheme.
• Training programs will be organized for eligible women. – The selected women will be given a scholarship of Rs 1000 during the training period.
• After completion of the training, the beneficiaries will be given a grant of up to Rs 50 thousand.

Women have been trained under the Chief Minister Sustainable Women Livelihood Scheme. The grant money has also been released to the NGOs. Reminders have also been sent to the NGOs who have not distributed the assets. It is expected that the assets will be distributed to the beneficiaries soon.

-Mohit Chaudhary, State Project Officer