DW BUREAU / Chandigarh Community kitchens run by various departments in Haryana are proving to be a boon for the poor and needy persons. Through these canteens, people are getting nutritious food at affordable rates. At present 100 canteens are being run by different departments in the state. These canteens are being operated by Self Help Groups formed under Haryana State Rural Livelihood Mission. Now the government has planned to open more such canteens in the state. This information was given during the 8th meeting of the Executive Committee of Haryana State Rural Livelihoods Mission (HSRLM) held here today under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary, Sh. Sanjeev Kaushal. The meeting approved the action plan of Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihood Mission, Deendayal Upadhyaya-Gramin Kaushalya Yojana and Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETI) for the year 2022-23, on which about Rs. 220 crore will be spent. The Chief Secretary said that Chief Minister, Sh. Manohar Lal has a vision that no poor and needy person should go hungry in Haryana and during the COVID-19 pandemic; Atal Kisan-Mazdoor Canteen was started from Karnal for the poor. People are taking full advantage of these canteens. Taking this effort forward, the number of these canteens should be increased further. It was informed in the meeting that Haryana Agricultural Marketing Board is running Atal Kisan-Mazdoor Canteens at about 25 places to provide affordable food to farmers and labourers, where farmers and labourers are getting enough food for just Rs.10. Apart from this, such canteens are being run by 3 Government Colleges, 5 Mini Secretariats, 5 Sugar Mills, 9 Government Offices and 26 BDPO Offices and at 9 places by Labour Department. Apart from these, 9 canteens are being run by the Health Department, where food is being provided to the patients and their families. It was informed in the meeting that a target has been set to form 15,000 self-help groups this year under HSRLM Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission. Apart from this, a target has been set to enroll members of Self Help Groups under Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, to set up an agri-nutrition garden and to set up 5,000 enterprises under the Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme. It was informed in the meeting that 1,889 members of self-help groups have been trained under the Rural Self-Employment Training Institute (RSETI) scheme through Indian Institute of Banking and Finance and they are being appointed by various banks. Apart from this, 9,663 Self Help Groups have been developed as a separate enterprise, which are earning Rs. 8,000 to Rs. 12,000 per month today through various works. It was informed in the meeting that under the Aajeevika Gramin Express scheme, 149 commercial vehicles have been provided to the women of self-help groups by way of interest free loan of Rs. 5.41 crore. With the help of these vehicles, the income of the groups is increasing and they are earning from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 18,000 per month. It was informed in the meeting that under RSETI, skill training is provided to rural youth as per the demand of the industry. This year 768 youth have been provided training and 545 have been provided employment. Apart from this, training is being given to 1,931 youth. (editor@dailyworld.in)