Around 32,000 new self-help groups (SHGs) have been created in Meghalaya since 2018, a number that the current government is proud of.
Prior to that, there were only 5,800 SHGs in the state, meaning that the number has grown five-fold in the past four years.
SHGs "have brought a transformational change in the lives of the women in Meghalaya," a press release stated today. SHGs have provided a valuable opportunity to women to become entrepreneurs and thereby become decision makers. However, while the jump in number of SHGs is five times, the funding provided to them by the government has increased by 15 times to Rs 96 crore from Rs 6.31 crore.
SHG support intends to support the beneficiaries through easy access to credit, initial start-up funding, training facilities, market linkage support and other interventions.
The release highlighted a couple of success stories, such as a sanitary pad manufacturing unit in Mawkyrwat and Rongram where SHGs produce affordable sanitary napkins for local girls and women as well as an opportunity for women to earn additional income.
