What are the main objectives of Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK)? Describe the features of main loan scheme of RMK.

The Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) is a national-level autonomous organization under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India. It was established in 1993 with the primary objective of empowering women from marginalized and vulnerable sections of society by providing them access to micro-credit and financial services. RMK aims to promote self-employment, entrepreneurship, and economic independence among women, particularly those in rural and urban areas facing socio-economic challenges. The main objectives of Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) are as follows:

1. Financial Inclusion: RMK aims to promote financial inclusion by providing affordable and accessible credit facilities to women entrepreneurs, especially those belonging to marginalized communities, to support their economic activities and income-generating projects.

2. Empowerment of Women: The organization seeks to empower women by enabling them to become self-reliant through economic activities. By providing financial assistance and support, RMK enhances women's decision-making abilities and socio-economic status within their families and communities.

3. Poverty Alleviation: RMK contributes to poverty alleviation by extending credit facilities to women entrepreneurs, enabling them to start or expand micro-enterprises, generate income, and improve their living standards.

4. Promotion of Sustainable Livelihoods: RMK focuses on promoting sustainable livelihoods by supporting women in engaging in various income-generating activities such as agriculture, handicrafts, small businesses, and service sectors.

5. Capacity Building and Skill Development: RMK provides training, capacity-building programs, and technical assistance to women beneficiaries to enhance their skills, knowledge, and capabilities in managing enterprises and utilizing credit effectively.

6. Social and Economic Development: Through its initiatives, RMK contributes to overall social and economic development by fostering entrepreneurship, employment generation, and women's participation in economic activities.

The main loan scheme offered by Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) is the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP). This scheme specifically targets rural women engaged in agriculture and allied activities and aims to strengthen their capabilities, improve their access to resources, and enhance their income-generating potential. Below are the features of the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP):

1. Target Beneficiaries: The MKSP scheme targets rural women engaged in agricultural activities, including small and marginal women farmers, landless agricultural laborers, and women involved in animal husbandry, fisheries, and other allied sectors.

2. Credit Facilities: Under MKSP, eligible women beneficiaries can avail credit facilities from RMK to meet their agricultural and allied business needs. The loans provided are affordable and tailored to the specific requirements of women farmers.

3. Income Generation Activities: The scheme supports income-generating activities such as cultivation of crops, vegetables, fruits, dairy farming, poultry, goat rearing, beekeeping, and other farm-based enterprises.

4. Skill Development and Training: MKSP emphasizes skill development and capacity building of women farmers through training programs on modern agricultural practices, organic farming, livestock management, post-harvest techniques, and entrepreneurship development.

5. Group Approach: MKSP encourages the formation of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) among women farmers to facilitate collective action, mutual support, and sharing of resources and knowledge.

6. Empowerment and Participation: The scheme promotes women's empowerment and participation in decision-making processes related to agriculture and rural development. It aims to enhance women's leadership roles and economic independence within their households and communities.

7. Integrated Approach: MKSP adopts an integrated approach by providing a combination of credit, capacity building, market linkage support, and extension services to ensure sustainable livelihoods and holistic development of women farmers.

Overall, the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP) implemented by Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) is a comprehensive initiative designed to uplift rural women engaged in agriculture and allied activities by providing them with financial support, skill enhancement, and empowerment opportunities. The scheme contributes significantly to promoting gender equality, rural development, and inclusive growth in India.