Shillong, March 10: The Federation of Meghalaya Self Help Group & Mahila Mandals (FMSHGMM) has appealed to the Government of Meghalaya to urgently address issues faced by Self Help Groups (SHGs) involved in the delivery and distribution of materials under various government programmes.
Speaking to reporters at the Shillong Press Club on Monday, federation Assistant General Secretary N. Warbah said SHGs across the state have been actively supporting several government initiatives by assisting in the distribution and delivery of materials at the grassroots level.
Warbah said the federation represents hundreds of SHGs, many of which are run by unemployed women who depend on these assignments for livelihood and financial support for their families.
“At the outset, we appreciate both the Central and State governments for entrusting SHGs with these responsibilities. The initiative has created valuable livelihood opportunities for many women,” she said.
However, Warbah noted that several SHGs have been facing challenges related to delayed payments and operational costs. Despite raising these concerns with the authorities, she said the groups have yet to receive adequate assurance regarding the release of pending dues.
Federation Vice President F.G. Rani stated that many SHGs have already completed the delivery and distribution work assigned to them but are still awaiting payment from the government.
According to him, the delay in releasing funds has placed significant financial pressure on the groups, as many members had to bear transportation, logistics and other operational expenses from their own resources.
“The financial strain is growing, and some SHGs are finding it increasingly difficult to continue their work. A few groups are even at risk of discontinuing their activities due to the mounting financial burden,” Rani said.
Another federation member, H. Buhphang, said several SHG members had used personal savings and even taken loans to complete their assigned tasks.
The federation pointed out that in some cases, SHGs had completed their work nearly a year ago but have yet to receive the pending payments, leaving many members struggling to repay loans and meet household needs.
The federation has urged the Social Welfare Department and the state government to take prompt steps to clear the pending payments and put in place a more efficient mechanism to ensure timely disbursement of funds.
It also called on the government to strengthen engagement with SHGs and recognise their contribution in supporting government programmes at the grassroots level, particularly in empowering women and enhancing community participation in development initiatives.
