Free Essays for Competitive Exams-Creative SHG - on the Path of Progress and Sustenance

Creative SHG - on the Path of Progress and Sustenance

- A success Story 

An amount of Rs. 16 lakhs has been sanctioned by Sikkim Rural Development Agency under Rural Management & Development Department to Creative Self Help Group (SHG) of Namcheybong, Pakyong for establishing a rural product marketing centre.

Creative SHG was set up in 2010 under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme, Swarna Jayanti GrameenSwarojgar Yojana with six members. The SHG is engaged in noodles making and working hard to become self-reliant. The group is the most performing SHG in East district. The small scale industry of noodles is more vibrant in neighbouring region of Kalimpong in Darjeeling district. Sikkim is also a market for the noodles from this region. Considering the potential of noodles in Sikkim, the Creative SHG laid focus on this sector and visited various noodles production centres in Kalimpong to gain ideas. It also deputed some local youths of their villages to work at these centres so they learn the noodle making process.

Creative SHG is supplying three types of noodles-plain, vegetarian and non-vegetarian-in the market under the brand name ‘Sikkim Kanchen Product’. The markets are Gangtok, Pakyong, Singtam and Rangpo. The group is targeting to enter other parts of Sikkim also.

 “We have involved some male members as we need their help too”, said the 12 member Group Head, Laxmi Rai. She further added that the economic conditions of every member have improved after the formation of the SHG. Every member knows the importance of collective effort.

Sikkim Rural Development Agency Project Officer D.R.Sharma said the Creative SHG is the best SHG in the East district. “The SHG completed the second grading and we have released subsidy of Rs. 1 lakh to it. Rural women folk should take inspiration from the SHG”, said Sharma.

The Creative SHG does not limit its activities to entrepreneurship. It is also actively working to create awareness among women folk of Sikkim and helping them to become empowered. Till now, the group has organized awareness and motivational programmes on benefits of SHGs to women of Rhenock, Rongli, Assam Linzey and other parts of the State.

The Creative SHG also shares its knowledge and experiences with other existing SHGs and has already conducted awareness programmes for the SHGs of Namcheybong, Dalapchand and Machong of East district. It is a regular participant in sale and exhibition meets organized in Gangtok, Jorethang and outside the State. The members also take products prepared by other SHGs when they go to participate in exhibitions outside Sikkim.