Puri: Members of several women SHGs recounted their success stories while participating in the Mission Shakti Convention here Saturday.
Narrating her experience, Arunima Nanda, an SHG member from Puri, claimed that the Mission Shakti initiative has earned her self-esteem.
According to Nanda, she and a few other women of her locality had formed an SHG in 2004. Initially, they were preparing dolls and other decorative pieces from coir and selling them to villagers. “We started selling our products at several fairs across Odisha after receiving financial assistance from the state government. Many others from our locality also joined the SHG. The initiative has improved our financial condition,” Nanda said.
Nanda claimed that some of her fellow SHG members have been elected as people’s representatives. “Now, we are being consulted for any kind of developmental work in our locality. Even, our family members are listing to our opinions while taking important decisions. The Mission Shakti scheme has given us a new identity,” she narrated.
Earlier, people were saying that women are made for household works. Now, members of SHGs are visiting banks, block offices, tehsils and other government offices to pursue their works, Nanda asserted.
Speaking at the event, Minakshi, an SHG member from Konark area, claimed that the Mission Shakti scheme has helped many BPL families to come under the APL category.
“I and 14 other women from BPL category had formed an SHG in 2000 and started preparing handicrafts by availing loans under Mission Shakti scheme. Many tourists from abroad purchased the products while visiting the Sun Temple at Konark,” She said.
According to Minakshi, her SHG has been opening stalls at many fairs across the state for the last several years. “Our SHG received a state-level award in 2011. I was also selected to visit Belgium under Mission Shakti in 2012,” she added.