Shillong, Feb 9: Self Help Groups (SHGs) has bought a transformational change in the lives of the women in Meghalaya.
SHGs have provided a valuable opportunity to women to become entrepreneurs and thereby become decision makers.
Till 2017-18, only 5800 SHGs were formed with an allocation of Rs 6.31 crores benefiting around 60,000 households.
The MDA government has identified the need to expand the reach of SHGs and in the past four years, had laid extensive emphasis on empowerment of women through SHGs under NRLM.
With the government’s continued efforts 32,000 new SHGs have been formed, which is a five-fold jump over the past four years.
The disbursement to the SHG has seen a 15-fold jump to Rs. 96 crores since 2018, thereby benefitting 3.1 lakh new households in the state.
The scheme intends to support the beneficiaries through easy access to credit, initial start-up funding, training facilities, market linkage support, and various other interventions.
In the year 2021, a unique Mela dedicated solely to SHGs was held at Rapleng village in East Khasi Hills.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, who had attended the event highlighted the importance of SHGs across the state and its direct benefit in uplifting the socio-economic conditions of women-led organizations. Many such SHG Melas are being organised across the state.
Till date, Rs. 110 crores have been disbursed to nearly 38,000 SHGs benefiting 3.7 lakh households in the state of Meghalaya.The sincere efforts of the government over the past 4 years, have resulted in creating a generation of women entrepreneurs in Meghalaya.Now these women have become financially independent and been contributing to the progress of the community.
Success stories
Sanitary Pad manufacturing unit: The women led SHGs from Mawkyrwat & Rongram Block decided to set-up sanitary napkin manufacturing unit in the village and generate additional income for their livelihood. Today, the unit not only produces affordable sanitary napkin for the local adolescents’ women but also provides an opportunity for women to earn additional income and live a better life.
Yes Bakery: The journey of Kharlyngdohis started in the year 2017, when she started her own business and was making a meagre monthly income of Rs.5,000-7,000.
After becoming a SHG member, she availed the benefit of SHG loan scheme and by the year 2019, she managed to open her own bakery “Yes Bakery†at Nonglang.
Currently, Kharlyngdohis is running her business successfully with 12 employees catering services to nearby villages and generating a turnover between Rs. 40,000 to Rs. 50,000 per month.
