Prime Minister Praises Womens Self-Help Group in Pratapgarh During Mann Ki Baat

Pratapgarh, September 27 (Daily Kiran) : Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently highlighted the Savitribai Phule Self-Help Group from Pratapgarh during his ‘Mann Ki Baat’ broadcast. He praised the women for their innovative products made from amla (Indian gooseberry), sparking a wave of excitement among the group members. They viewed the mention as a recognition of their hard work and dedication.

Kamlesh Kumari, the president of the Savitribai Phule Self-Help Group, along with ten other women, produces various products such as amla murabba, candies, and juices from her home. On Sunday, she listened to the ‘Mann Ki Baat’ program on her mobile phone.

In an interview, Kamlesh expressed her pride in the Prime Minister recognizing their efforts and mentioning their products. She emphasized that this acknowledgment is a significant honor for their small organization.

For the past five years, Kamlesh has been leading the self-help group, which aims to empower local women by providing them with employment opportunities. The group processes several quintals of amla into different products, which are then packaged and sold in the market. They also set up stalls at fairs and government events to sell their goods, sharing the income among all group members.

Kamlesh urged the government to facilitate direct purchases of their products at the state level. This would not only enhance market access for their goods but also increase their earnings. She believes that better market arrangements would encourage the women to work even harder.

The Savitribai Phule Self-Help Group was established in 2020 with government support to produce amla murabba and candies. Kamlesh was appointed president, with Sushma Devi serving as secretary. Together, they recruited nine other women from the village to join the group.

Members include Amita, Asha, Meena, Kavita, Jyoti, Malti, Lata, Rekha, and Sumitra, all of whom work from home to create amla products. Kamlesh’s husband, Raj Bahadur, is a lawyer, and they have two sons, Ansh (15) and Shreyansh (10).

Sushma, the secretary of the group, expressed gratitude towards the Prime Minister for mentioning their organization. She also thanked the bank for providing them with a loan, which has allowed their business to thrive. The women are pleased with their progress and are optimistic about the future.