WOMENS SELF HELP GROUPS AND SELF HELP COOPERATIVES

The Project:

Women in rural areas are engaged in agriculture, collection of minor forest produce and also work as wage labourers to supplement family income. Ironically, they are deprived when it comes to distribution of opportunities and enforcing decisions either at home or at community /Panchayat level. Formation and capacity building of women self help groups (SHGs) and Self Help Cooperatives has been one of our strategies for their socio-economic empowerment through concerted action and mutual help.

Key Achievements:

• Women SHGs have been formed in 8 GPs covering 1462 women  engaged in savings and income generation programmes. The initiatives of SHGs have posed a big challenge to the local traders and middlemen who used to capitalize on their poverty.
• 69 SHGs are engaged in different income generation activities. 34 SHGs are engaged in value addition and marketing of Non Timber Forest Produces.
• 38 SHGs have taken up loans of 19, 09,000 from bank and 464 women have utilized the amount for income generation programmes with an average profit of 4000/- to 7000/- per group.
• 22 SHGs have mobilized Government Programmes like PDS, Plantation, Midday Meal and construction work. The SHGs are also involved in other social activities, for example sending children to schools, liquor prohibition, cleaning of village, access Anganwadi services, pre-natal and post natal care.
• A Multi purpose Self Help Cooperative is registered with 400 members and an annual transaction of Rs 708,698-/- during 2009-10. 97 Members accessed loans from the cooperative for IGP and household requirements.
• The women of 8 Panchayats are observing the International Women’s Day which has helped in building up solidarity and confidence among women.

For case studies of this project, please click here.