Formation & Strengthening of  Self Help Group ( SHG)

Project Location : Formation of SHG  among needy  Women in project operational area in the District of South 24 Parganas.

Project Background: The aim of the formation and strengthening of Self Help Group ( SHGs) for needy women is to economic empowerment of poor rural women. It mainly tries to animate the rural women in the remote villages of the district and motivate them to develop their livelihood through the formation of SHG Cluster and federation. There is no doubt that the degree of rural socio-economic condition of any country measured by the livelihood progress of its backward citizens. The main aim of the project is to organize SHG clusters and federation of women who do not have access the means of livelihood. Skill development for better livelihood has given the highest priority as per our diocesan perspective plan. The majority of the women population are exploited right from the womb to the tomb. The social attitudes, traditional practices and outlook of women have shown the exploitation, discrimination and gender inequality. Apparently, the lack of education is the root cause. The domestic violence is widely prevalent in the society and will be eradicated if we could educate the women and make them skills to manage their survival. Enhancing skill sets of the women so as to make them employable.

Goal: Empowerment of women by creating opportunities for the betterment of their socio-economic condition of 60 villages under 7 blocks, South 24 Parganas district

Objectives

• To Provide proper information to the SHGs to access the facilities from PRI, Block Live-stock Development Office, Agriculture Development Office and Bank NGO etc. for betterment of their formative stage.
• Capacitate and empowerment of SHGs women, interns of family  socio-economical development through several Meeting, seminars  within the community.

Achievements :

• SHGs have been formed in  targeted villages among the rural backward families and  linked with Bank as to access loan for income generation activities. 
• The SHGs took initiative to provide family counselling against domestic violence towards peace building.
• SHGs members also presented the present condition of the village in the Gram Sansads meeting (Government Village Development Meeting). Some of the proposed activities presented by the cluster women have been granted for implementation like Social Forestry, Widow Pension, housing, old age pension, install Tub well, Electricity and Road repairing in most backward villages.
• The SHGs celebrates International Women Day, Independence Day, Environment Day, which shows the unity and integrity of women towards achievement of their rights.
• They rescued five trafficked girls with the help of police and local administration