Joint Secretary, MoRD Visits Assam to Review ASRLM Gender Initiatives

Guwahati: Smriti Sharan, Indian Postal Service (IPoS) and Joint Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), visited Assam on Wednesday to review gender-focused initiatives under the Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ASRLM). 

She was attended by Sunandita Banerjee, Consultant from the National Mission Management Unit (NMMU), DAY-NRLM.

Welcomed by Kuntal Mani Sharma Bordoloi, State Mission Director, ASRLM, the Joint Secretary engaged in detailed discussions on the state’s gender interventions. The review focused on the functioning of the Gender Resource Centre and Nari Xuraksha Kokh, both key platforms in speaking gender-based violence and endorsing gender equity at the grassroots level.

As part of her visit, Sharan undertook a complete review of the State Mission Management Unit (SMMU), where she interacted with senior officials and evaluated the progress of gender-related policies, training programs, and meeting strategies. 

She praised the organised efforts of the SMMU team and emphasized the need for strengthening institutional capacities to deepen gender discourse statewide.

Later in the day, the Joint Secretary attended the Training of Trainers (ToT) Programme on the 17 Gender Modules at the Don Bosco Institute of Management, Kharghuli. The session witnessed active participation from District Functional Experts (DFEs) and senior Mission functionaries. Addressing the gathering, Kuntal MS Bordoloi underscored the importance of gender-responsive training and community leadership.

During her communication with field-level workers, Sharan praised the DFEs for their pivotal role in undertaking issues such as gender-based violence, child marriage, and school dropouts in rural Assam. 

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She reaffirmed MoRD’s support for grassroots innovations and reiterated the Centre’s alignment with Chief Minister  Himanta Biswa Sarma’s vision to eradicate child marriage in Assam by 2026.

The Joint Secretary particularly commended the convergence approach adopted by ASRLM in collaboration with the Women and Child Development and Health departments, noting that such integrated efforts are essential for sustainable, community-led solutions.

Stating her appreciation for ASRLM’s inclusive, SHG-led model of empowerment, Sharan thanked Bordoloi and the ASRLM team for their hospitality and the robust systems showcased during her visit.

The visit will continue on July 4, with field visits scheduled to Dimoria block (Kamrup Metro) and Mayong block (Morigaon) to observe on-ground implementation of gender interventions and interact with SHG members and village organizations.