It is estimated that more than 25 million rural women in India have been benefitted by the Self Help Group (SHG) movement. The socio-economic benefits include financial inclusion, self-dependence, participation in family and village affairs and most importantly, awareness on education and community development.

One can never underrate the power of women coming together on a common platform, for an indispensable need. Netra SHG’s story is one such remarkable tale of unity in diversity. Netra SHG started in 2014 in Benachi village of Alnavar taluka (erstwhile Dharwad taluka). Belgaum Diocesan Social Service Society (BDSSS), a social development arm of Belgaum Diocese, has had a long history of working in the area for the upliftment of smallholding farmers and other rural communities. The SHG has 10 exciting women always wanting to grow big and eject from the poverty cycle. 

BDSSS’ Ujjivana project supported by Caritas India, New Delhi came as a big ray of hope in the lives of these women. The project envisioned a way to assemble, educate and give access to credit for the inception of a wholesome alternative livelihood option under the thrift union movement. 10 women stepped forward to start saving and the go-ahead for a better life. “We started off small and then went for the internal loans for our work-related needs,” says Kamalavva Basavaraj Vaddar, who took the initiative at the very outset.

BDSSS trained them on financial inclusion, SHG book-keeping training, government schemes’ training, farming lessons, income generation activity training, Entrepreneur Development Program training, leadership and conflict resolution training, rights awareness and very recently stitching skills. As a result, the SHG flourished with every passing day with very capacity building drive.

As part of the collective business, in the second phase of Ujjivana, team BDSSS embarked on creating unique models of empowerment. Netra SHG’s 4 women were quick to comprehend the opportunity and under the aegis of BDSSS initiated preparing of bakery edibles and snacks. The SHG got support from the Ujjivana project partially. The business plan was of Rs. 26000/- where the project contributed Rs. 10000/- and the rest was pooled in by the SHG. Today, this income generation activity is nowhere to be seen in the surrounding areas. BDSSS and Caritas team gave them proper methodology and standard operating procedure.

The team divided itself equally into production and sales. This is a part-time work opportunity for ladies who have full-time agro-based work. The finished product is sold in the nearby bakeries and stalls. Netra has already bagged 10 continuous vendors for its quality products. The women are completely pumped up and now make an additional net profit of Rs. 15000/- every month. This sum is equally shared by four partners. For women, working 8 days a month on this initiative and making an additional Rs. 4000/- every month, it is indeed a big achievement. As a result of this initiative, their children are eating good, going to schools regularly and their lifestyles have been on an improving spree. As the business will expand, more hours of labour will be put in and these women will enhance their skills and income even further. Way to go and a big pat on their backs!