SHGs help rural Gujarat to wealth

Two women, helped by NABARD, show the way.

Following the precedent set by two women in rural districts of Gujarat, a number of Self Help Groups (SHGs) are suddenly springing up leading to a new wave of self-reliance in the state.

Recognising the movement, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has begun associating with the SHGs in Bagasara, Savar Kundla, Khambha and Lathi-Lilya-Damnagar, towns in the Amreli District and is also taking initiatives to promote the same.

Bagasara has traditionally hogged the limelight for its imitation jewellry and embroidery work, but is fast turning into a centre for SHGs. The town has a cluster of 100 self-help groups and voluntary organisations engaged in manufacturing home made range of consumer goods, mainly processed foods, beauty products, textiles, decorative articles and cleaning products.

"There are at least 1,350 women in these SHGs. They manufacture these products and are also marketing them door-to-door," said Devchand Savaliya of Vishwa Vatsalya Manav Seva Trust, Bagasara. Total savings of all the groups in Bagasara alone amounts to Rs. 20 lakh.

Similar cases of two women engaged in manufacturing embroidery products and handicrafts articles have been a growth catalyst in Savar Kundla taluka.

"Damini Vaishnav and Vasanti Kevadia of Savar Kundla, catalysed the social engineering movement in the area, giving work to around 2,000 women from 20-25 villages, with the intention of increasing their turnover and outsourcing their requirements," said K R Salve, assistant general manager, district development, NABARD.

Damini Vaishnav said, "NABARD helped us participate in the exhibition held at Mumbai and Ahmedabad where we sold goods worth Rs 2,70,000."

Presently, Vaishnav is engaged in creating 10 SHGs which will include 200 women. Kevadiya's house trains women in the neighbourhood and is becoming a nurturing ground for more SHGs.