Una selected for rural livelihood mission’s 1st phase

Rajesh Sharma

Una, November 9

Under the Centrally sponsored National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), aimed at poverty alleviation of rural families, the Una district has begun its grassroots level activities of forming self-help groups (SHGs).

Chetna Khadwal, project officer of the District Rural Development Agency, said Una was one of the five districts selected for implementation of the mission in the first phase. While activities had been launched in all the five developmental blocks, Haroli had been selected as ‘intensive block’ where all mission activities would first be undertaken and later replicated in other blocks.

Khadwal said a team of trainers from Rajiv Gandhi Mahila Vikas Pariyoijna, situated in Bareilli district of UP, had arrived here for a 45-day ‘training of trainers’ programme. The team had selected two panchayats, Pandoga and Panjawar, where the SHG members were being given 15-day training on socio-economic empowerment through collectives.

She said six panchayats would be covered by the visiting team during their 45-day programme and after that, the local trainees will continue with these trainings in the remaining panchayats. Under the mission, all economically weak families of the villages were eligible to become members of SHGs. They would be extended credits by local banks at seven per cent interest rates, she added.

Moreover, these members will also be imparted skill development trainings in livelihood generation activities of their choice, free of cost, she said.