The Women Development Ministry (WDM) has started National Fund for Rural Women Development project, costing Rs 110.77 million. Sources said that in National Fund for Rural Women Development, Federal Government's share is Rs 24.5 million and First Women Bank Limited (FWBL) share is Rs 10.5 million.
Sources told Business Recorder here on Thursday that 'Supporting Skills and Micro Enterprises Development amongst Gawadar Women' costing Rs 39.785 million and Patti Development project under Chitral was started in collaboration with Aga Khan Rural Support Programme costing Rs 35.985 million.
Though some economic empowerment of rural women projects are started in Sheikhupura and Gujranwala in collaboration with First Women Bank Limited, with the cost of Rs 35 million. But these projects have been started in only two cities of the Punjab province, and not sufficient to cover all the rural areas of the province, they said.
Supporting Skills and Micro Enterprises Development amongst Gawadar Women was started with the Government share of Rs 26.785 million and Khushali Bank share is Rs 13 million, they said. Sources said that Departmental Development Working Party (DDWP) had approved the project two years ago and its period is three years. The project completion month is June 2008.
However, cumulative utilisation in 'Supporting Skills and Micro Enterprises Development Amongst Gawadar Women' is Rs 21.8 million and Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) in fiscal 2007-2008 is Rs 4.985 million, they said. Sources said that in Patti Development Project Chitral, utilisation in the previous fiscal is Rs 3.720 million whereas cumulative utilisation is Rs 26.220 million.
Sources said that the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) allocation in fiscal 2007-08 is Rs 6.50 million and PSDP allocation in 2006-07 is Rs 3.720 million, they said.
However, cumulative utilisation is Rs 24.50 million and PSDP allocation in the previous fiscal is Rs 10.50 million, they said. Sources said that cumulative utilisation in economic empowerment of rural women Shiekhupura and Gujranwala is Rs 24.50 million. Rural women in Punjab lack resources. Micro credit schemes and skills training must be imparted to them. Rural areas of Punjab are completely neglected by the WDM in the ongoing projects.