Kumar Bahukhandi
Women of Surajpur district associated with self help groups working at Ready-to-Eat ( RTE) manufacturing plants are a powerful example of the economic empowerment and self feliance -Photo Credit-CG/PR
Raipur: The foundation of economic empowerment rests on a strong mindset. Strong will, self-confidence, and continuous effort propel individuals towards success. The women associated with self-help groups in Surajpur district have put this philosophy into practice, presenting a powerful example of self-reliance.
These women are not only empowering themselves but are also playing a crucial role in the campaign to provide nutrition to women and children in the district.
Nutrition and Women’s Empowerment Go Hand in Hand
Nutritional food (Ready-to-Eat or RTE) manufacturing plants are government-run units that produce nutritious, pre-prepared meals for children, pregnant women, and adolescent girls under Anganwadi centers and other schemes.
These plants are operated by women’s self-help groups (SHGs), thus promoting both nutrition and women’s empowerment. The food includes ingredients such as wheat, pulses, and milk, which are rich in protein and other nutrients.
Production of Delicious and Nutritious Savory Porridge and Sweet Energy Food
With the objective of providing quality nutrition to pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children through Anganwadi centers in the district, a ready-to-eat nutritional food manufacturing plant has been launched. These plants are producing delicious and nutritious savory porridge and sweet energy food, which are rich in essential micronutrients such as Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pyridoxine, Folic Acid, Cobalamin, Iron, Calcium, and Zinc.
32 Women Directly Involved in Nutritional Food Production at Three Plants
The district administration has established a total of 7 nutritional food manufacturing plants in the area . Currently, three plants are successfully operating in Bhaiyathan, Pratappur, and Surajpur blocks. 32 women are directly involved in the nutritional food production work at these three plants.
Nutritious food is being provided free of charge to pregnant women and children through Anganwadi centers. In this way, women from self-help groups are making an indirect but extremely important contribution to strengthening maternal and child health. Importantly, the responsibility for both the production and distribution of this nutritious food has been entrusted to these women’s self-help groups.
In Bhaiyathan block, 15 self-help groups are operational
in Surajpur block, 15 self-help groups, and in Pratappur block, 13 self-help groups are actively involved in the distribution process. A total of 430 women from these groups are actively engaged in distributing nutritious food to the Anganwadi centers.
This scheme has created local employment opportunities for women. These empowered women are now becoming economically self-reliant by engaging in livelihood activities alongside their household chores. This initiative will not only significantly improve nutritional levels in the district but is also setting an inspiring example in the direction of women’s empowerment.
