Shillong: The Meghalaya government’s initiatives in boosting the self-help group (SHG) movement are bearing fruit with the state registering more than 44,000 SHG groups compared to less than 6,000 in 2018.
“Several of these women groups have set up successful businesses and are improving the well-being of their families and communities. For instance, SHGs from Mawkyrwat, South West Khasi Hills, and Rongram, West Garo Hills, have successfully set up affordable sanitary napkin manufacturing units, thus supporting hundreds of local adolescents and women,” said Chief Minister Conrad Sangma during his Independence Day speech.
SHG women members are also finding employment as ‘bank sakhis’ and ‘business correspondents’ and are providing financial services in remote areas.
Sangma cited the example of Ridahunshisha Lynshiang from Pongtung village of Pynursla block, East Khasi Hills. Armed with an e-POS device, she travels around the villages in the area conducting financial literacy camps, facilitating loans, disbursing cash, opening savings accounts and enrolling beneficiaries under social security schemes. She is being able to earn an average income of Rs 19,000 per month.
The government will further strengthen the SHGs and village organisations and empower the 4 lakh women who are part of this collective, Sangma informed.
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