Mai Bhago Istri Shakti Scheme

The Government of Punjab has introduced the Mai Bhago Istri Shakti Scheme for the welfare of women residing in rural areas. The scheme intends to help women for establishing micro and small business in rural areas. The assistance under the MBIS scheme will be available in any sector for imparting skills related to employability and entrepreneurship. In this article, we look at the Mai Bhago Istri Shakti Scheme in detail. To know about Shagun Scheme – Aashirwad click here.

Benefits of the Mai Bhago Istri Shakti Scheme

The following are the benefits of the Mai Bhago Istri Shakti Scheme.

The scheme will provide a loan at 8-10% interest per annum to individual or group of women.
This scheme helps to improve their families financial position and to enlarge the women’s livelihoods.
Primary agriculture cooperative societies (PACS) is an organisation which is available in many areas in Punjab and help to provide training and commercial activity to women.
The Punjab government will create a scheme for providing assistance up to Rs.25,000 to women through PACS by a personal guarantee.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for applying the Mai Bhago Istri Shakti Scheme are listed below.

All women in Punjab are eligible to get the benefits of this scheme.
Applicant must be the permanent resident of Punjab state.

Documents Required

The required documents are to be submitted while applying for Mai Bhago Istri Shakti Scheme.

Residence proof, e.g. certificate from residence authority ( electricity bill, water connection bill, etc.).
Copy of Aadhar card
Copy of bank details

Sectors Covered under this Scheme

The following are the fields focused in this scheme are as follows:

Phulkari work
Tailoring
stitching and embroidery
Hosiery and knitting
Vermicompost fertilisers
Beauty Parlour
STD Booths and petty shops
Mushroom growing, Beekeeping, earthen pots
Vadi papad, Pickles,Murrba, sauce making
Dairy &and Poultry
Cattle feed making. Poultry feed making
Making of Soft toys
Processing of Fruits and vegetables
Grinding and stuffing of chilli powder, haldi powder and masala powder Computer BPO / Call centre Training ( inbound/ outbound calls)
Soap making
Notebook, Copybook, Registers etc. making
Uniform making
Bakery, Confectionery
Candle making

Training

The Division level Committee will organise training of women members at PACS level, Block level or at the District Head Quarter. Joint Registrar of the division will have discussion with the Department of Horticulture, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB), Krishi Vigyan Kendra, , Punjab Agriculture University (PAU), Women Welfare Department, Knit Wear Clubs Ludhiana, Social Security Department and various NGO’s working in the area for imparting serval types of training, guidance and awareness. JRCS along with his team will identify the support mechanism depending upon the field conditions for such women/groups. He will decide and seek help from Government departments, PAU centres, NGO’s and other agencies. The Managing Director PICT will promote all the Joint Registrars and Deputy Registrars in holding these training. Fund amount of Rs. 20.00 lacs has been allocated for the training and have been placed at the disposal of MD PICT, Chandigarh for further disbursement to Joint Registrars as per their requirement.

Application Process

The application form of Mai Bhago Istri Shakti Scheme is available on the central co-operative banks in Punjab. Hence, fill the application form and submit it to the bank along with the required documents. If the bank approves your application, the acknowledgement regarding your status will be forwarded to the applicant.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Mai Bhago Istri Shakti Scheme for Women Empowerment in Punjab.

The Mai Bhago Istri Shakti Scheme is an initiative by the Government of Punjab aimed at providing financial assistance and skill development opportunities to women residing in rural areas of the state. The scheme aims to empower women by helping them establish micro and small businesses, thereby improving their livelihoods and financial independence.

All women who are permanent residents of Punjab are eligible to avail the benefits of the Mai Bhago Istri Shakti Scheme. The scheme is open to both individual women and groups of women interested in starting or expanding their businesses.

The Mai Bhago Istri Shakti Scheme provides loans at an interest rate of 8-10% per annum to eligible women or groups of women. The scheme also offers assistance of up to Rs.25,000 to women through Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS) against a personal guarantee.

The scheme covers a wide range of sectors, including phulkari work, tailoring, embroidery, hosiery, knitting, vermicompost fertilizers, beauty parlors, STD booths, petty shops, mushroom growing, beekeeping, earthen pots, food processing, dairy and poultry, cattle feed making, soft toy making, fruit and vegetable processing, spice grinding, BPO/call centers, soap making, stationery making, uniform making, bakery and confectionery, and candle making.

To apply for the Mai Bhago Istri Shakti Scheme, applicants must submit a residence proof (such as an electricity bill or water connection bill), a copy of their Aadhaar card, and a copy of their bank account details.

Application forms for the Mai Bhago Istri Shakti Scheme are available at central cooperative banks in Punjab. Interested applicants can fill out the form and submit it to the bank along with the required documents. If the application is approved, the applicant will receive an acknowledgment.

The Division level Committee organizes training programs for women members at PACS level, block level, or district headquarters. The training covers various skills related to employability and entrepreneurship in the sectors covered by the scheme. The committee collaborates with various government departments, universities, NGOs, and other agencies to provide training and guidance.

The Mai Bhago Istri Shakti Scheme is implemented by the Punjab government in collaboration with Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS) and various other government departments, universities, and organizations. The Joint Registrar of each division plays a crucial role in coordinating the scheme's implementation and ensuring proper training and support mechanisms for the beneficiaries.

The Mai Bhago Istri Shakti Scheme aims to empower women in rural areas by providing them with financial assistance and skill development opportunities. By helping them establish micro and small businesses, the scheme contributes to improving their families' financial position and enhancing their livelihoods. It also promotes entrepreneurship and economic independence among rural women.

Yes, the Punjab government has allocated a fund of Rs. 20.00 lacs for training and capacity-building activities under the Mai Bhago Istri Shakti Scheme. This fund has been placed at the disposal of the Managing Director, PICT (Punjab Information and Communication Technology Corporation Limited), Chandigarh, for further disbursement to Joint Registrars as per their requirements.