The Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (RD&PR), Jammu & Kashmir, organized a massive live streaming event across the Union Territory on Tuesday to broadcast the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address from Jammu. The event successfully connected over 80,000 people through block-level programs held at all 285-block headquarters in J&K.
During the event, a PMAY beneficiary from Poonch and two NRLM beneficiaries from Bandipora and Kathua interacted with the Hon’ble Prime Minister sharing their experiences about the benefits received under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes of the department.
During the event, the spotlight was on the transformative impact of various Centrally Sponsored Schemes, with beneficiaries sharing their inspiring stories directly with the Prime Minister. Among them were Keerti Sharma from Kathua, a beneficiary of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), who was commended by PM Modi for her efforts in empowering local women.
Keerti Sharma recounted her journey of empowerment, crediting the Jammu & Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM) for changing her life trajectory. From being unemployed and facing financial hardships, Keerti took a loan from her group and started a business with just one cow, eventually expanding it to three cows with a loan of Rs. 1 lakh.
Her success not only made her self-reliant but also uplifted other women in her group, providing sustainable livelihoods for their families. She said she wants to empower millions of sisters like through this disstrict. Keeri said that in her district alone, there are 8,5871 women whom she wants to uplift and transform into Lakhpati Didi through JKNRLM.
Similarly, Shahina, a Self-Help Group (SHG) member from Bandipora, shared her success story, highlighting how she turned her life around with the support of NRLM. Starting with a small honey farming business, Shahina diversified into multiple ventures, including Rice Mill, Flour Mill, Masala Mill, and Poultry Farming, which now sustain her family and provide employment to others in her community.
Lal Mohammad, a resident of Poonch and a beneficiary of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), expressed gratitude for the government's support in providing his family with a solid and well-built house, significantly improving their living conditions. Prime Minister Modi lauded the perseverance and success of these beneficiaries, emphasizing their role as beacons of change in their communities.
He extended his best wishes to them and reiterated the government's commitment to reaching even the remotest villages with beneficial schemes. The event received accolades from LG Manoj Sinha and Chief Secretary Atal Dullo for its successful execution, with special appreciation for the proactive role of Block Development Officers (BDOs) and the NRLM team.