The Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman went on a 2-day visit to Tripura, inaugurated about a dozen infrastructure projects. At Mohanpur in the West Tripura district, the minister announced a Rs 1,300 crore project to develop indigenous communities and improve their quality of living.
Several sources started mentioning that Sitharaman ‘launched’ the NABARD’s year-old scheme of ‘My Pad My Right’ in the state. The National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development started an initiative to install low-cost sanitary pad making machines in over 700 districts.
Associating with its NAB Foundation, NABARD started the programme last October, which Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani launched. The Second Angle reached the Tripura NABARD office to comment on the development since then.
The government source replied that the initiative was launched in the capital Agartala last year. “Training started with the launch last year, which was interrupted by the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic this year,” she said.
The Chairman of NABARD, G.R. Chinthala, visited the Jayaashree Industries in February this year to oversee the livelihood enhancement initiative for women. He said that the machines were installed in all of the States and Union Territories in the first phase itself. “We took this as a measure to empower women. It is a livelihood augmentation programme,” he added.
The scheme is an initiative to install one sanitary pad production machine, along with raw material to last at least two months, packaging material and 50-day wages. To build the capacity of the Self Help Group (SHG) members, a five-day training over three phases is also provided.
The Chief Minister of Tripura, Biplab Kumar Deb, tweeted on the state’s finance minister’s visit. “Interacted with women Self-Help groups at Darshan Deb Memorial School ground along with Union Finance Minister Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman Ji.
Hon’ble FM Nirmala Sitharaman Ji inaugurated the ‘My Pad My Right’ (MPMR) Project. It (MPMR) will help to achieve menstrual hygiene for rural women.”
He then thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Facebook for providing the funds under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund to uplift the state’s rural areas. “On behalf of 37 lakh people of #Tripura, I extend my warm gratitude to Hon’ble finance minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman Ji and the central government led by Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi Ji to release Rs 493 crore under RIDF to develop the rural areas of the state. Hon’ble FM Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman Ji released this fund a few hours after her visit to Tripura reflects Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s commitment toward rural development and upliftment of indigenous communities through good governance.”
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