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Chamoli (Uttarakhand), October 23 (IANS) The National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) is transforming the lives of rural women in Chamoli district by providing them sustainable livelihood opportunities. As a result of these opportunities they have gained financial freedom.
Implemented under the guidance of the Central Government, the Mission aims to empower women from economically weaker sections by forming Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and supporting them in income-generating activities.
The story is of Dasholi development block of Chamoli. There, women from eight gram sabhas have joined hands under the Hariyali Autonomous Cooperative Dewar-Khadora, which was set up through NRLM.
These women are adopting dairy farming as their main source of income. Their daily routine is to collect milk from nearby villages every morning and sell it to the milk dairy. The dairy has been established under the Village Upliftment Project of the Government of Uttarakhand. This initiative has not only provided them a stable income but also boosted their self-confidence and social standing.
Suman, a beneficiary of the project, told IANS that before joining the self-help group, most of the women had very limited sources of income and were financially dependent on others. Now, they are earning a respectable living by working together. “We collect milk daily and supply it to the dairy. It feels great to contribute to our family’s income,” he said proudly.
Mamta, another member of the group, said the dairy earns more than Rs 2 lakh per month, which is shared among the group members after expenses. “We never thought that we would be able to earn so much in our villages. NRLM’s training and support has completely changed our lives,” he said.
Under NRLM, women are also receiving regular training in bookkeeping, dairy management and financial planning, helping them to manage their small-scale enterprises efficiently. The initiative has encouraged savings, improved decision-making abilities and promoted unity among women.
The success of the group has inspired women from neighboring villages to form similar groups and start their own ventures in poultry farming, vegetable farming and handicrafts.
–IANS
BRT/PGH