Social Justice & Empowerment Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil on Tuesday presided over the 52nd Board of Directors (BoD) meeting of the Women Development Corporation, during which key decisions were taken to further strengthen women empowerment in the state.
During the meeting, the Minister reviewed various schemes and programmes being implemented by the Corporation and held detailed deliberations on initiatives aimed at the social and economic upliftment of women.
To promote self-employment among women, the Board approved a significant enhancement of the self-employment loan limit, increasing it from ₹1 lakh to ₹3 lakh. The move is expected to enable a larger number of women to access financial support and become self-reliant.
In another major decision to encourage higher education among girls, the Board approved an increase in the loan amount for higher studies from ₹75,000 to ₹3 lakh. The loan will be provided interest-free, offering vital assistance to girl students from economically weaker sections to pursue higher education.
The meeting also reviewed ongoing welfare initiatives, skill development programmes, employment generation efforts, as well as training and awareness activities. Emphasis was laid on ensuring that all schemes are implemented in a transparent manner and that benefits reach eligible women within stipulated timelines.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Shandil said that the Women Development Corporation remains committed to the holistic development and empowerment of women and will continue to strengthen its programmes through more effective and inclusive schemes in the future.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
