Pune: In a significant development, all women’s self-help groups in Pimpri-Chinchwad City (PCMC) are set to undergo a comprehensive survey with the aim of empowering them and providing self-employment opportunities. To facilitate this initiative, the Municipal Corporation has established a Project Management Unit (PMU). The estimated expenditure for this three-year project is around eight crores, which will be managed by the Tata Community Initiatives Trust, a private organization.
The Social Development Department of the Municipal Corporation oversees the implementation of various welfare schemes. In order to promote self-employment, grants are provided to self-help groups by the Municipal Corporation. The city has a significant number of women’s self-help groups, including the Covid Yoddha Women’s Self-Help Groups that have been specifically established to support disabled individuals, those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and women widowed due to the pandemic.
The focus of the project will be on enhancing the capacity and self-confidence of women in self-help groups, fostering industrial development, creating employment opportunities, and facilitating market integration. Additionally, the establishment of a dedicated unit will strengthen the management of self-help groups through institutional building and financial literacy programs.
Proposals were invited for the operation of this unit during a one-month period from November 24 to December 21, 2022. Subsequently, the central warehouse department floated a tender, receiving responses from two private organizations, namely the Tata Community Initiatives Trust and the All India Institute of Local Self-Government.
On February 2, 2023, officials from both organizations, along with Additional Commissioner Pradeep Jamble and Deputy Commissioner of the Social Development Department, presented their proposals to the PCMC. The Tata Community Initiatives Trust stated that the total expenditure for the three-year project would amount to 13 crores.
Upon request to reduce the cost, the organization expressed its willingness to undertake the project at a cost of 7 crores, 68 lakhs, 59 thousand, 706 rupees, excluding GST tax, for the duration of three years. The Standing Committee, under the approval of Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Singh, sanctioned this expenditure, which will be financed from the sub-head provision of the Mission Swavalamban for women’s self-help groups under the Social Development Department.
