Mumbai, August 9: The Prime Minister‘s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) is becoming a significant source of livelihood in rural areas. Gauri Kumari from Sheikhpura district and her husband, Lallan Pandey, are prime examples of this initiative’s impact. By leveraging PMEGP, they have not only transformed their own fortunes but also provided employment to 20 individuals in their village.
Gauri, a woman entrepreneur, shared her journey. Initially, she worked in marketing, but the income was inconsistent. “I was in marketing, but it was challenging to manage the household,” she explained. Upon discovering the PMEGP scheme, she quickly applied and started her business with a sewing machine and a handicraft machine.
The beginning was not easy. They faced challenges with raw materials, customers, and capital. However, through hard work, their business gradually flourished. Today, Gauri has a steady stream of orders and earns a good income monthly, employing around 20 men and women.
Lallan Pandey recounted his struggles, stating, “I used to operate a sewing machine in Delhi and Ghaziabad. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, everything shut down, and we returned to our village, facing a dire situation. It was then that we learned about PMEGP. We took a loan in my wife’s name and started our sewing and handicraft business. Now, we are self-reliant.”
Lallan emphasized that the scheme’s greatest strength lies in its subsidies and easy loans, allowing small entrepreneurs to start without fear. With support from banks and the District Industries Centre, they acquired machines and established their business. Gauri shared her future plans, stating, “If we receive more loan assistance from the government, we can set up 200 sewing machines, creating jobs for around 200 people. I urge the government and administration for support.”
Madhuri Devi, who works in their unit, expressed her gratitude, saying, “Earlier, there was no income at home. Now, I earn a monthly salary by learning sewing here. Gauri didi has taught us skills and provided us with work.”
Both Gauri and Lallan expressed their gratitude to Prime Minister Modi, stating that schemes like PMEGP are a boon for poor and unemployed families. They particularly appealed to women and youth to take advantage of government initiatives. “Visit banks, meet with DIC, get trained, and start your own business. It’s better to create jobs for ten people than to chase after a job,” they encouraged.
District administration officials noted that several units have been established in Sheikhpura under PMEGP in recent years, with increased participation of women in sectors like sewing, dairy, food processing, and handicrafts.
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