The Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan today directed concerned officers to involve maximum number of youth and women while creating new Self Help Groups (SHGs) as it is a pre-requisite for poverty reduction and women empowerment.
He stressed on need to make Self Help Groups (SHGs)economically more viable, sustainable so that they can create good employmentopportunities.
The Divisional Commissioner made these directions whilereviewing the performance and progress of J&K State Rural LivelihoodsMission in the Kashmir Division.
The meeting was informed that 21362 SHGs are functioningwith 1.83 lakh members in 1949 Village Organizations (VOs) across the valley.
It was further informed that UMEED has been instrumental inproviding jobs and has acted as a bridge between the Valley youth and financialinstitutions to get a sustainable livelihood. It was revealed that scores ofyouth were able to get dignified livelihoods by means of loans which theirmothers/sisters receive through UMEED SHGs. This has not only resulted in theoverall socio-economic upliftment of the poor families, but also ensured thatthe dropout vulnerable youth could find dignified options for running theirlives.
Few examples quoted during the meeting regarding thelivelihoods which youth have been able to acquire by virtue of UMEEDintervention were commercial vehicles, Gym center, and petty shops,manufacturing units like cricket bat making, joinery units, tailoring andfashion designing units. The meeting was informed that to upscale the earningsof rural women, Automatic Milk Collection Centres have been established incollaboration with J&K Milk Producers Cooperative Limited.
The Divisional Commissioner directed concerned officers tocollect details with regard to specified areas in every district for youth andwomen folk especially in the sectors of agriculture, horticulture, cooperativesocieties, educational academies and coaching centres, sports academies andsend a report to the Divisional Commissioner’s office within a fortnight. Hesaid the report would help in providing youth and women oriented Self HelpGroups especially in South Kashmir districts and Downtown area of Srinagar withthe technical, financial support besides market availability.
Khan reiterated that government will reach out to allunemployed youth and women folk to link them with sustainable livelihoodsopportunities and nurture them till they come out of poverty and enjoy a decentquality of life. The concerned departments play the important role to providetechnical support to all SHGs for providing the livelihoods services andsustaining the livelihoods outcomes subsequently. Additional Commissioner Kashmir Tasaduq HussainMir, Mission Director J&K State Rural Livelihoods Mission, Directors ofAgriculture, Animal Husbandry, Handloom, Rural Development, Joint Directors ofHandicrafts, Horticulture, Assistant Commissioner (central) and other seniorofficers were present in the meeting.