Sikkim pushes women’s empowerment agenda; coordination meeting on Aama Sashaktikaran Yojana held in Mangan

A coordination meeting on the Sikkim Aama Sashaktikaran Yojana was held at Pakshep in Mangan District, reflecting the state government’s renewed commitment to economically empower non-working mothers and marginalized women across the region. The meeting was attended by the Hon’ble Minister for Social Welfare Department and Area MLA of 31-Lachen Mangan Constituency, Shri Samdup Lepcha, along with local panchayat members and CLC representatives at the SKM Party Office.

The Sikkim Aama Sashaktikaran Yojana, a flagship social welfare initiative of the Government of Sikkim, provides annual financial assistance of ₹40,000 to eligible women. This amount, which was earlier ₹20,000, was doubled in 2024 as a measure to expand the reach and impact of the program. The scheme covers a broad section of disadvantaged women, including non-working mothers, single mothers, widows, unmarried mothers, divorced women, and survivors of sexual abuse.

Administered by the Women and Child Development Department (WCCD), the scheme aims to foster financial independence and stability for women, particularly those who are the sole caregivers or struggling with economic hardship. The financial aid is disbursed in two equal installments annually, providing beneficiaries the flexibility to allocate funds towards their children’s education, household needs, or small-scale entrepreneurial ventures.

During the meeting, Minister Samdup Lepcha praised the progress made through the scheme and emphasized its role in uplifting the social and economic status of women. He called upon panchayat leaders and grassroots party workers to take a proactive role in identifying beneficiaries, spreading awareness, and ensuring the timely delivery of benefits. “Our collective goal should be to reach every eligible mother with the support she deserves. No one should be left behind,” he said.

The Minister also highlighted the importance of maintaining transparency and sincerity in implementation. He encouraged the local leadership to work in tandem with government departments to ensure that welfare schemes like the Aama Sashaktikaran Yojana not only succeed on paper but bring real, lasting change in the lives of people.