Itanagar, Apr 3: Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday said women’s empowerment is essential for building a self-reliant and prosperous Arunachal Pradesh. He highlighted the role of the Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ArSRLM) in strengthening rural communities and promoting sustainable livelihoods.

Speaking after chairing the mission’s fifth governing body meeting, Khandu emphasized expanding economic opportunities for women-led self-help groups (SHGs), which are central to the initiative. In a post on X, he stated, “When women are empowered, families grow stronger. Strong families lead to strong villages, and strong villages build a strong state. ArSRLM is an important step towards a self-reliant and confident Arunachal Pradesh.”

The Chief Minister outlined key priorities, including enhancing market linkages for SHG products, implementing digital and financial literacy programs, promoting youth-led rural enterprises, and strengthening value chains in agriculture, horticulture, and forest produce.

Khandu also noted ArSRLM’s contributions in organizing rural women into SHGs, facilitating credit access, skill development, and livelihood opportunities to increase grassroots economic participation across the state.