By:Cherrila Wangchuk Bhutia (Bureau Chief-ICN Sikkim)
GANGTOK:Self Help Groups have been making their mark across the nation and Sikkim has been no exception towards the movement that has created thousands of jobs for women, giving them the opportunity to earn their living and ultimately gaining independence both in the domestic and professional front.
Studies done in sikkim has found that after getting enrolled into the SHG’s, women have found emotional, social, and psychological contention within themselves. They have found a place in society and no longer depend on the men to support the family.
Self-Help Group is a small voluntary association of poor people, preferably from the same socio-economic background. They come together for the purpose of solving their common problems through self-helpand mutual help. The SHG promotes small savings among its members.
Keeping up with the organic mission of the state, SHGs from Sikkim are involved in selling various kinds of Organic produce such as bottled pickle, fresh vegetables and many more organic produces.
Furthermore, in lieu to the government’s move towards a cashless economy, plans have been chalked out in order to help the rural women keep up with the rest of the country.
The women in belonging to the SHG’s in the state will be trained in digital cashless transaction paving for a convenient way of selling their produce and also to garner more footfall in the long run.
Ms. Norkit Lepcha and Ms. Ongzay Lepcha age 36 and 26 respectively are a part of an SHG from North Sikkim named Damsang Group. The group constitutes a total member of 12 women. Working, in the SHG has changed their life for the better.
The women have been trained in various kinds of cultivation namely in mushroom, ginger, rajma and many more by the concerned departments.
