In a landmark initiative to strengthen rural livelihoods, Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, in collaboration with Indian Council of Agricultural Research–Central Institute for Women in Agriculture (ICAR- CIWA), inaugurated a Custom Hiring Centre (CHC) in village Akalgarh under the All India Coordinated Research Project on Women in Agriculture (AICRP-WIA). The Centre was inaugurated by Dr. Mridula Devi, Director, ICAR-CIWA, who highlighted the support provided under the SC-Sub Plan and reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to empowering rural women through access to modern technology, skills, and market opportunities. The CHC was formally handed over to a local Self-Help Group (SHG) for community management, with a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed between ICAR-CIWA, PAU, and the SHG to ensure its sustainable operation. Equipped with a dal mill, weighing scale, sewing machines, water pump, and maize sheller, the CHC provided affordable access to agricultural machinery and value-addition tools, aiming to reduce drudgery, enhance productivity, and create income-generating opportunities, particularly for women and small farmers. The SHG members had earlier received operational training from Dr Renuka Aggarwal, Scientist, Department of Food and Nutrition, preparing them to manage the centre effectively.
Speaking at the occasion, Dr Ritu Mittal, Unit Coordinator, emphasized the role of CHCs in promoting skill development and sustainable resource use.
Dr Ajmer Dhatt, Director of Research, PAU, lauded the initiative for linking academic research with practical rural solutions, while Dr Deepika Vig, Coordinator of Research, College of Community Science and Dr Harpreet Kaur, Head, Department of Food and Nutrition, praised its potential to empower women and foster community development.
The inauguration was attended by AICRP scientists, the Sarpanch, Panchayat members, and local farm women, marking a collaborative effort toward empowering women and fostering self-reliant, sustainable rural development.
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