Jeevika inks pact with BRAC for welfare of urban poor

Patna: Jeevika (Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society) inked an MoU with BRAC ( Building Resources Across Communities) here on Thursday, paving the way for the implementation of flagship programme—Satat Jeevikoparjan Yojana (SJY)—across the urban areas of the state.The MoU was signed during a workshop on— Satat Jeevikoparjan Yojana – Urban. The partnership between Jeevika and BRAC is supposed to be a crucial step towards empowering urban communities and promoting sustainable livelihoods. The workshop aimed to share valuable insights and exchange ideas and discuss strategies for empowering urban communities through sustainable livelihoods.Inaugurating the workshop, Jeevika CEO Rahul Kumar, presented the salient features of SJA and its important role in mitigating the sufferings of the urban poor. Additional chief secretary, state urban development and housing department, Arunish Chawla, delivered a special lecture, emphasising the significance of this collaborative effort. At the workshop, SJY participants from peri-urban areas shared their insights on livelihood programmes in urban areas. The workshop also featured a session on transferring lessons from rural to urban programmes. A panel discussion was held by the experts, including Patna’s municipal commissioners Animesh Kumar Parashar, Gaya’s municipal commissioner Abhilasha Sharma. Unlocking women's potential in urban areas was another key focus of the workshop under which the executive director of Mobile Creches, Sumitra Mishra, gave a presentation detailing various sources of livelihoods for urban women. Secretary, environment, forest and climate change department, Bandana Preyashi, and gender and governance expert from the Centre for Catalysing Change, Madhu Joshi, also participated in the discussion.