Ranchi: The Integrated Farming Cluster (IFC) initiative under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) was launched on Friday by the Union Rural Development Secretary NN Sinha at SIRD Hehal. Representatives of different states also participated in the national workshop organized by Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society.
Addressing the workshop, Union Rural Development Secretary NN Sinha appreciated the work being done for livelihood empowerment through Sakhi Mandals in the state. He told the representatives of other states to implement other activities including Livelihood Resource Center and Didi Bagiya Yojana in their states. Sinha said that in order to connect the last families of remote villages with strong livelihood there is the need to coordinate with all the departments from the state level so that the beneficiaries can get the benefits of all the schemes in an integrated manner.
Expressing happiness over the launch of the Integrated Farming Cluster he advised all NRETP States to do micro-planning in an effective manner so that the rural community can benefit from this initiative.
Sinha said that the organizations of Sakhi mandals should further strengthen the cluster level federation so that it can develop as a model in the coming days as this will give impetus to livelihood and social inclusion. He asked all the states to expedite the work of Producer Enterprise.
He said that preparations are on for implementation of Mnrega through cluster level federations in the coming days, for which these organizations need to be strengthened further. He told women organizations to work with Panchayati Raj Institutions and Departments of Government and Civil Society as only then the dream of eradicating poverty on a large scale would be meaningful.
Secretary of the state Rural Development while sharing his experience on livelihood activities in Jharkhand said that the income of women has doubled due to drip irrigation and the income of people is increasing through multi-cropping and animal husbandry. He said that capacity development of various cadres through training, empowering financial inclusion of PVTG families and engaging women in various skill activities is the priority as this will boost rural livelihood. At the same time, efforts are being made to take Palash’s products and Palash brand to a bigger level by linking them with agriculture-based livelihood he said adding that by providing more training to the cadres of Sakhi Mandal, preparations are being made to strengthen the livelihood of the remote villages of the state in a sustainable manner.