- Benefits of government schemes are becoming the basis of women’s confidence, security and self-reliance.
- Dr. Daneshwari Sambhakar
- Deputy Director
In Chhattisgarh, public service isn’t limited to implementing schemes and programs. The true meaning of public service is revealed when a government initiative fulfills a family’s needs, provides support to a mother during maternity, gives a woman the opportunity to stand on her own feet, and lifts a child out of malnutrition and leads them toward a healthy life. The “Seva Sankalp Abhiyan” is becoming a medium to connect this thinking with public participation.
Under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Vishnu Dev Sai, public welfare schemes aim to provide assistance to those in need and provide them with opportunities for progress. The impact of these schemes is now visible not only in statistics but also in the stories of those whose lives have been transformed by the government’s schemes.
- Economic support through Mother’s Worship, a step towards self-reliance
The Mahatari Vandan Yojana is an important initiative towards the economic empowerment of women. Under the scheme, eligible women are provided monthly assistance of ₹1,000 directly into their bank accounts. So far, over ₹20,000 crore has been disbursed to more than 6.8 million women in 31 installments.
This amount has become a means for many women to meet family needs, increase their participation in financial decisions and start small businesses.
Mrs. Urmila Yadav of Janjgir-Champa started an artificial jewelry business by saving the funds she received from the scheme. She now earns additional income by selling jewelry at home and in weekly markets. Mrs. Jyoti Kaser of the same district started a papad business with financial support. Mrs. Sumitra Karsh of Sarhar village opened a cosmetics shop, while Mrs. Kusum Devi Pandey expanded her shop.
Mrs. Satrupa Gandharva of Kabirdham is using the funds received from the scheme for her children’s education, household needs, and savings. Meanwhile, Mrs. Shyambati Korram of Kondagaon is depositing funds under the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana to secure the future of her two daughters and meet the family’s nutritional needs.
These examples make it clear that the impact of financial assistance is not limited to current needs, but it can also become the basis for the family’s future plans.
- Safety in times of crisis, support with dignity
Women’s empowerment means economic independence as well as a safe and dignified life. To this end, 42 Sakhi One-Stop Centers operate in all 33 districts of the state. In cases of domestic violence, harassment, or other crises, women are provided with a single-stop service, including legal aid, medical care, psychological counseling, and temporary shelter.
This system not only provides assistance to the woman in distress but also gives her the assurance that the government stands with her in difficult circumstances.
- Financial support for daughter’s marriage
For economically weak families, marrying off their daughters is a major responsibility. The Chief Minister’s Kanya Vivah Yojana provides financial assistance to such families. So far, 24,336 girls have been married in mass marriages under the scheme, and each couple is provided with a marriage assistance of 50,000 rupees.
This initiative is helping families in marrying their daughters with respect while reducing the financial burden of marriage.
- The path to self-employment through the power of the group
To provide a sustainable foundation for women’s empowerment, it is also essential to connect women with livelihoods and entrepreneurship. Under the Women’s Prosperity Scheme, concessional loans worth ₹129.46 crore have been provided to 42,878 women’s groups.
Women’s groups are expanding their small businesses and livelihood activities through subsidized loans. Through collective efforts, women are not only earning income but also strengthening their role in their families and the local economy.
- The power of motherhood, the foundation of a healthy childhood
The spirit of service also extends to maternal and child health. Through the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, eligible pregnant women and mothers are provided financial assistance, which helps with nutrition, health checkups, and essential care during pregnancy.
Mrs. Sanju Tiwari of Kabirdham received Rs. 5,000 for the birth of her first child and Rs. 6,000 for her second child, a girl. She used this money for milk, fruits, nutritious food, and health needs. Mrs. Mukeshwari Sahu of Bemetara learned about the scheme from an Anganwadi worker and a midwife and took advantage of it, using the assistance for nutrition and health checkups.
Meanwhile, Himanshi Kovachi, a girl from Mohla-Manpur-Ambagadh Chowki, went from severe malnutrition to normal through the “Hamar Swasth Laika” program. During 16 weeks of specialized nutrition management, her weight increased from 9.2 kg to 11.50 kg. Regular home visits by Anganwadi workers, weight measurements, health checkups, and nutritional guidance were crucial to this transformation.
- Beyond service resolution data, identifying change
These examples reflect the true spirit of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan. For Urmila Yadav, the scheme funds became the foundation for self-employment, for Shyambati Korram, a means of securing her daughters’ future, for women in distress, the Sakhi One Stop Center became a source of assurance of safety and support, and for Himanshi, sustainable nutrition management became an opportunity to move towards a healthy life.
This is the speciality of the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan – it is an attempt to see and present the schemes not just in figures but as changes in the lives of the people.
When government assistance reaches the right person, it’s more than just financial support. It becomes confidence for a woman, hope for a family, a secure future for a daughter, and the beginning of a healthy life for a child.
These changing stories of Chhattisgarh reveal the significance of public service. From service to resolution, from resolution to strength, and from strength to empowerment—this is the journey that the Seva Sankalp Abhiyan is taking to every person.