Self-help groups finally take off in a hamlet of Himachal Pradesh

Self-help groups finally take off in a hamlet of Himachal Pradesh

MUNISH DHIMAN  5th Apr 2014

SDM Lalit jain with members of one of the Self Help Groups in Pragpur. elf-help groups (SHG) are becoming a new tool for development and poverty alleviation in various parts of the country. The first heritage village of India — Pragpur, the largest development block of Himachal Pradesh, leads the way in this context. The self-help movement was launched by the Government of India in 1999 as Swaran Jyanti Gram Swarozgar scheme, under which some 156 self-help groups were launched and made functional in this hamlet of Himachal Pradesh. The main aim of these groups was to provide capital for starting micro-enterprises in the villages that could sustain rural livelihood, especially for womenfolk. Different employment programmes included dairy farming, goat rearing, tailoring, basket making and other small enterprises that held relevance to the rural poor. These were initiated for groups consisting 10-20 members each; unfortunately, these groups became dysfunctional gradually, due to the lack of leadership, inertia and motivation amongst the rural folks. As a ray of hope, the SHG movement has been once again introduced and has gained momentum despite various challenges. It has proved to be one of the most successful efforts to empower the poor in less than six months of its working. The second avatar was initiated in September 2013 by the then-Assistant Commissioner Development-cum-BDO Pragpur, Lalit Jain. Jain tells Guardian20, "My aim during the stint was on the overall development of the block, though the focus had been on identifying innovative trades that can be used to form small groups and making them self-sustainable through interest-free loans for a period of time." Jain had been visiting the panchayats to motivate the people, especially women, to be a part of the SHG movement. It is worth mentioning here that in this short period of time, 122 groups have been formed under IWMP (Integrated Watershed Management Programme) and have become operational in the Pragpur Block. Jain further said, "The inter-loaning feature of the group is one of the greatest features with which members of the group deal with matters like emergency medical expenses, fees, stationary of school going children of the members rather being a burden on the family or anyone else. This effort, besides making these women independent, is a morale booster for them that fortifies their self esteem." Some of the groups in the area are doing remarkable work by making solar light with tiny material, making LED lights, whereas women in the area are being trained in cutting and tailoring, pickle-making and so on, besides other ITI trades that are not only adding to the individual growth and the growth of these groups, but is also aiding to the overall development of the state. Jain, who has a progressive approach towards development, quips, "Any small thing, if moved in a right direction with a positive approach and a desired aim, will definitely reach its goal. In the same way, these small self-help groups with small loans can generate big profits and can be a financial support for the state and the country." http://www.sunday-guardian.com/young-restless/self-help-groups-finally-take-off-in-a-hamlet-of-himachal-pradesh