Women Self Help Groups (SHGs) in Jongksha under Mawkynrew Community and Rural Development (C &RD) block launched a social awareness project through wall graffiti in the village.
The project aims to highlight social issues like women’s safety, drug abuse, road safety, advantages of blood donation and environment preservation.
The members of the SHGs stated that through these graffiti they would like to bring awareness among the people in the village about the need to say no to drugs, which has created havoc among the youths of the state.
These women also stated that through these graffiti they would like to educate the villagers about the rights of the girls and women even as they added that these would also create awareness on the need to take measures to save the environment.
Andrianna Pyngrope, Cluster Coordinator, of the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihood Society (MSRLS), in charge of Jongksha cluster, who was part of the event, said that she was impressed by the ideas of the SHGs which were depicted in the graffiti.
Pyngrope said that the MSRLS helps in setting up of SHGs and trains the members in various aspects.
“The expressions through words in the graffiti are truly worth appreciating,” she said.
According to her, this initiative by the women SHGs of Jongksha will inspire others in the neighbouring villages.
Pyngrope also informed that the MSRLS apart from helping the formation of SHGs, provide them funds from the National Rural Livelihood Mission.
“These funds are start-up funds and revolving funds, which are in the form of loans and when they reach the Village Organisation (VO) and Cluster Level Federation (CLF) levels they are eligible for Community Investment Funds wherein they can expand their business,” she added.
She also said that the MSRLS also provide leadership training programmes and also how to set up their own businesses through micro credit plans.
Meanwhile Sordar of Jongksha Olet Kharsohnoh, who is the brain behind these graffitis, said that through these writings the women SHGs have their own worth and meanings.
“They have their own messages to give to the society and to teach and also a new meaning and bring ways and means on his to avoid from the bad habits,” Kharsohnoh said.
