'Economic independence of women important for country's rise'

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat today termed economic independence of women as a must for the country's rise to the status of a global superpower and said by launching a number of women-oriented schemes, the state government has taken a step in that direction.
On the eve of Raksha Bandhan today, hundreds of women were provided five saplings each of fruit bearing trees under the 'Mera Ped Mera Dhan' scheme of the state government at a programme presided by the Chief Minister with an economic incentive to expand the green cover.
The women got FDs of Rs 300 for each tree to be planted by them close to their homes.

After three years the forest department will make an on-the-spot survey of the plantations and if the trees are found to be growing their planters will be paid the maturity amount of their term deposits by the forest department.
Rawat also announced that the premium amount of women getting insured under the social security insurance scheme of the Centre will be paid by the state government from the chief minister's discretionary fund for a year so that more and more women beneficiaries come under the ambit of the scheme.
Later talking to reporters, Rawat announced that from September 5 a Ganga Cow scheme will be launched by the state government for widows who are without a support system.

50 such women in each district will initially be provided with a cow each under the scheme to help them give a means of livelihood, he said.
This will also enable them to contribute to milk production in the state, Rawat said.