PILIBHIT: A fortnight-long “Santraptikaran Abhiyan” (saturation campaign) aimed at accelerating financial independence among rural women was launched in Pilibhit on Saturday under the Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission (UPSRLM).The initiative will run from August 5 to August 20, 2026.DM Gyanendra Singh mobilised nodal officers to conduct door-to-door surveys across villages, focusing on beneficiaries of housing, ration and pension schemes.UPSRLM deputy commissioner Vandana Singh said the campaign aims to connect rural women with self-employment opportunities, formal banking services and government welfare schemes.While the state-wide drive aims to cover three crore families, officials have identified 1.87 lakh households in Pilibhit that currently lack representation in self-help groups (SHGs).Women from these households will be inducted into SHGs following the surveys, enabling them to access community savings, micro-credit, skill training and employment opportunities.Priority will be given to beneficiaries of the chief minister housing scheme, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), MGNREGA job cardholders, eligible ration cardholders and pensioners receiving old-age, widow or disability benefits.Women covered under the Har Ghar Nal Scheme of the Jal Jeevan Mission, those facing domestic violence or dowry harassment, acid attack survivors and members of the transgender community will also be included.“Pilibhit currently has 13,600 active SHGs encompassing over 1.55 lakh families, many of whom are earning sustained incomes through dairy farming, organic agriculture, food processing and digital service provision,” said the district magistrate.“With this saturation drive, thousands more women across the district are set to become key drivers of both economic development and social change in rural belts,” he said.
