Rajasthan strengthens women’s SHGs with value addition

Emphasis on market linkages, capacity enhancement

The women’s self-help groups (SHGs) in Rajasthan are being strengthened with value addition to their products and evolving market linkages in accordance with the demand, while bank loans worth ₹2,400 crore have been arranged for them with the emphasis on their capacity enhancement. As many as 2.30 lakh SHGs are at present functioning across the State.

The Rajasthan Grameen Aajeevika Vikas Parishad (RGAVP), functioning under the aegis of the Department of Rural Development and managing the SHGs’ affairs, organised a “Samooh Sambal” (group resources) dialogue here on Tuesday to explore the scope for expansion of work. The SHG members highlighted challenges in the field while narrating their experiences of working in different sectors.

The RGAVP has been formulating poverty alleviation schemes and implementing livelihood-related programmes, while supporting the SHGs in their income generation activities. The RGAVP is implementing four mega livelihood projects supported by the Union Ministry of Rural Development, th World Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.