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Hill women embrace entrepreneurial spirit, finance management and economic planning

Mushroom cultivation, fruit preservation, vegetable production and floriculture were among the economic activities discussed extensively by participants at a workshop organised recently in the Doon Valley.

The two-day workshop was held at Dakapthar in the valley by the Himalayan Action Research Centre, a well-known NGO working for the overall development of the Garhwal hill region. Thirty-six women motivators from Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Tehri, Pauri and Dehradun attended the meet.

Participants were given detailed information on creating self-help groups based on economic activities, rules and regulations, process of building a fund, maintaining records and associating the self-help groups with rural banks and cooperative banks.

The main objective of the workshop was to orient the women motivators on the concept, formulation and benefits of the economic activity based self-help groups. It was emphasised at the workshop that self-help groups should not confine themselves to lending and collecting loans. They should extend themselves in the direction of generating collective income based on local resources.

A detailed discussion was held on the selection of the economic activity, the key factors to be considered while selecting the activity, important steps to initiate the activity and factors that make it successful.

Aruna Gairola from Chhibala village of Purola block narrated her experiences in fruit preservation from which she earned nearly Rs 10,000 in two to three months. She had received motivator training and fruit preservation training from HARC.

Another important aspect discussed at the workshop was developing access to markets and increasing awareness of marketing skills among the hill people. Ways and means to tap local markets were suggested by participants.

Dr Hira Ballabh Pant, coordinator of the HARC's resource wing, talked to the participants about various schemes and programmes of banks and other government agencies which are implemented for the economic development of people.

At the conclusion of the workshop, participants prepared their plan to initiate the process of forming economic activity-based self-help groups in their villages. As a follow-up of the two-day workshop, HARC will provide skill development training, entrepreneurship development training and training in enhancing marketing skills and finance management.

UNI

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