বাংলায় পড়ুন
In a bid to empower women, particularly those from tribal and rural communities, the central government's initiative, 'Prayas,' is paving the way for self-reliance through modern agricultural practices. Two villages in the Malda district of West Bengal have been selected under this project, one inhabited by tribal communities and the other by rural settlers.
Located in Malda, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) plays a pivotal role by providing training to these women. Additionally, the project is supported by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute's Patna branch, facilitating its implementation across the country. Collaborating with local agricultural science centres, the women of Malda receive comprehensive training in various agricultural techniques.
According to Pramila Barman, a beneficiary of the project, women are being trained in cultivating diverse crops with a focus on maximising profits. Moreover, they are equipped with knowledge on using different agricultural machinery and provided with seeds and other resources.
It's noteworthy that all expenses related to this agricultural endeavor are borne by the government, ensuring that women solely focus on their training and agricultural activities.
Dr. Bikash Sarkar, the head scientist at the Patna branch of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, emphasised that Prayas is a novel initiative aimed at providing agricultural training to tribal and rural women. Through this training, many are expected to achieve self-reliance in the agricultural sector. Currently, women from Chandandighi in Gazole block and Begunbari in Habibpur block of Malda are benefiting from regular training sessions and practical agricultural lessons.
The government remains optimistic that these women farmers will soon become self-sufficient in their agricultural endeavors. The enthusiasm among the women beneficiaries for receiving government-sponsored agricultural training is palpable, marking a significant step towards women's empowerment in the agricultural sector.
