It was never an easy task for the women, especially who are unemployed and others with a very low income, especially during this challenging time of COVID-19 to break the shackles of poverty and become financially stronger. But the Lahluti and Ksohktilang Women Self Help Group (SHGs) from Lummuriap and Thadialong villages in West Jaintia Hills District of Meghalaya is proving it wrong. These two groups are among the 15 determined, enterprising and progressive groups, which are becoming financially independent. Thanks to the income from Food processing.

On 16 July 2020, the SHGs from the 7 targeted areas attended a series of training workshops organized by the FARM Northeast III project under the Organization of Jaintia Hills Development Society (JHDS). At this workshop, they learnt about the process and benefits of Food processing and preparing pickles, Jams and baking cakes. The workshops proved revolutionary for both the SHGs as the process shown was very easy and they just need to know some techniques and maintain the timing.

“I am very lucky to have Participated in the food processing training as I have learned to process preparing different types of bakery products and pickles and their packaging and labelling. Food processing has helped me solve my financial problems as it brought new opportunities for earning a livelihood.

I am confident that more earnings will come from food processing and the living standards of my family will improve,” says Maryolity Pan, from Thadialong village, West Jaintia Hills Districts, Meghalaya.

The trainings have been extremely successful as they could learn how food processing gives a very good start and profit. Initially, the groups invested a sum of Rs.5000 including the ingredients for baking cakes like flour, baking powder, bakers whip cream powder, and simple ingredients for making pickles like species, oil, vegetables of any choice and pickle packing bottles or containers and other ingredients for making jams etc.

As of now, they sell these products in their own and nearby villages. The Lahluti SHGs groups have also marketed the products in the PWD department and in jowai market which is 35 km away from their village.

The earning of the group after deducting all the incurring cost was around 8000 which almost doubled to Rs. 14,290 in the second try. This was very encouraging not only for the two groups but for many other SHGs groups in the locality.

Indeed, with their knowledge and success, the groups are today mobilizing resources and encouraged other SHGS groups in their community by giving them training and to follow in the footsteps and choose food processing as a viable livelihood.

The role of women has increased manifolds since the project began. The women explain that they have realized that economic self –dependence will come with this new source of earning a livelihood and it has been possible only because of food processing. They are now confident that more funds will come and the lives of their family will improve.

Seeing the success of this intervention, JHDS plans to expand the intervention into a micro-enterprise business by linkage or networking with NABARD for micro-enterprise factory, and linkage with ‘Meghalaya Basin Management’ as they provide soft loans and other facilitation support for Food Processing, shared Fr Manbha Pakem, Director, JHDS.

JHDS intends to extend its support towards branding the products through value addition and also plans to upgrade their production facilities by increasing their products. The Iahluti and Ksohktilang SHGs groups also intend to strengthen the market by building a relationship with existing customers. Over the next years, they are expected to expand their work to other villages and District to increase profits.

Caritas India is proud to share such instances of women entrepreneurs from the North East Region and looks forward to support such encouraging intervention in partnership with JHDS.