Economic empowerment through Self Help Groups- Case studies for Purulia, West Bengal, India

 Jashpur is a village, located in once ELW( copycat insurgent group)   dominated Bandwan block of Purulia District of West Bengal, India. Few years back, a Wadi Self Help Group named Jashpur Ma Ambika Wadi ( Orchard) Group was formed in collaboration and support from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural development (NABARD) and Gramin Vikas Trust ( GVT)- a National level Development Organization, promoted by a premier fertilizer producer Co-operative in India-KRIBHCO. After forming the said Self Help Group, ample efforts were taken for Income enhancement of the Group through puffed rice making and it’s marketing in the local areas. The required utensils and paddy were provided by GVT, under Income Generating support of the Wadi Project, Bandwan.  Based on this token support, and the earned profit, the SHG members started depositing @Rs.300/Month in the local Bank   and the remaining amount of their earned profit was equally distributed among the members of the said SHG. As of date, this Group has deposited an approximate amount of Rs.50, 000 to the local Bank and linked with National Livelihood Mission Program of National Government, and received all requisite benefits ( loan, subsidies, soft skill training etc)  under this programme. Now the SHG members have started thinking to purchase puffed rice making machine out of their own Group corpus for expanding their current business in their neighboring areas, apart from their own village.

Kukradabar, a village surrounded by dense forest and (hilly) rock under Kuilapal area of Bandwan Block of Purulia, West Bengal, India -one of the most backward district in Eastern India. The tribal women folk of the village has formed a Self Help Group named Thili Mahila ( Women)  Group with the auspicious support from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development ( NABARD)  and Gramin Vikas Trust( GVT) , which was followed by  initiating a Babui grass rope making petty trade by the SHG members based on processing of Babui grass ( grown heavily in Western tracts of West Bengal and Odisha border) . The Group had received 8qtls of Babui grass under IGA support of the Wadi Project, Bandwan for the purpose and sold the processed rope in the local market @ Rs.40/kg.  The SHG members earned some profit out of their petty trade and deposited an amount of Rs. 5,000 in the local Bank ( Regional Rural Bank), while the remaining amount of the profit was equally distributed among the members themselves. Now these members never approaches to the local money lender in receiving loan support in lieu of usurious rate of interest, as their own Self Help Group gave them the financial strength to arrange their seed money to expand their business opportunity. They are now planning to have their own Rope making machine from matching grant support from the local Bank in view of earning more profit to lead a decent life.