Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi today provided significant relief to 110 families from the disaster-affected Gram Panchayats of Seragaon, Karligad, and Dhanola—located within the Raipur Development Block—under the Gramotthan (REP) Project, which is operated by the Rural Development Department. The event took place at a private hotel in Sahastradhara. During the occasion, he distributed cheques amounting to over ₹87 lakh as financial assistance to various Self-Help Groups (SHGs).
Speaking on the occasion, Cabinet Minister Ganesh Joshi stated that the State Government is continuously working towards the rehabilitation of disaster-affected areas, as well as the livelihood enhancement and empowerment of women. He noted that through the Gramotthan (REP) Project, opportunities for self-employment are being made available to villagers, thereby strengthening their economic status. Addressing the women of the Self-Help Groups, Minister Ganesh Joshi remarked, “The modern woman is no longer confined solely to the domestic sphere; rather, she has emerged as a strong cornerstone for economic and social transformation.” He added that by joining Self-Help Groups, women are not only becoming self-reliant but are also playing a pivotal role in the advancement of their villages and society.
He further stated that the State Government is extending every possible support to integrate women into self-employment and entrepreneurship, enabling them to become empowered and active partners in the state’s development. Praising the Self-Help Groups, he affirmed that women constitute the backbone of the rural economy, and the government is actively encouraging them at every level. Minister Joshi highlighted that, to date, over 2.55 lakh women across the state have achieved the status of ‘Lakhpati Didi’ (women who have earned over one lakh rupees).
Prominent figures present at the event included District Panchayat Member Veer Singh Chauhan, Gram Pradhans (Village Heads) Rakesh Jawadi, Sanjay Rana, Sachin Rana, Ghanshyam Negi, and Ratan Singh, as well as Block Development Officer Aparna Bahuguna, among many others.
