SHG Mela cum Health Camp held in East Jaintia Hills District

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaOctober 12, 2021

As part of the celebration of Meghalaya’s 50^th year of statehood,the Office of the Block Development Officer, Khliehriat C&RD Block on Tuesday organized a Self Help Group Mela cum Health Camp at the office campus of the Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, Khliehriat.

The programme was held with the objective to generate greater awareness on Poverty Alleviation Programme under NRLM through social mobilization of the poor rural women into SHG and link them to a formal financial institution and awareness to the participants on health Services and to reassert the importance of maintaining COVID appropriate behaviour, especially during the festive seasons.

Addressing the occasion as chief guest Kyrmen Shylla, Minister of Social Welfare said “gone are the days when women were confined to household chores”, while also stating that with the presence of SHGs under the NRLM has provided a platform for empowering women through various livelihood activities, showcasing their skills by producing varied range of products, and to work towards being contributors for their family in particular and the upliftment of the society as a whole.

He urged the district officials to create more awareness to the general public on the government schemes and benefits so that the beneficiaries will get the knowledge and information of the criteria required to avail the schemes provided by the various departments of the District. The Minister also stated that as responsible citizens, it is very important to work together with the government departments in order to bring about a positive change for the overall development of the District and the state as a whole.

E Kharmalki, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, East Jaintia Hills District, informed the gathering that there are a total of 1652 Self Help Groups (SHGs) and 87 Village Organizations (VOs) in Khliehriat C&RD Block and also stated that it will enable the people to take up different livelihood activities that are income generating and as a key step to reduce poverty. 

Speaking on Covid Vaccination, he stated that “We should prepare and protect oneself from the virus and the only way is by getting vaccinated”. He also urged the gathering and those above 18 years of age to take the opportunity to get vaccinated in the health camp which was part of the SHG Mela.

Earlier, Ronald Kynta, Chief Operating Officer of NRLM and MSRLS informed that the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) started in the Month of November 2014. He said that at present there are 35000 (Thirty five Thousand) Self Help Groups (SHGs) and 4,00,000 (Four Lakhs) households have been benefited across the State. He also stated that the aim of the National Rural Livelihood Programme is to form 42000 (Forty two Thousand) Self Help Group in Meghalaya, targeting women belonging to poor households to be members of Self Help Groups and to get all the essential benefits, assistance and the right platform to showcase their skills and talents through the National Rural Livelihood Programme.      

The chief guest presented awards for the SHG Social Mobilization for 100 % HHs Saturation to Sohkymphor Village, Iahluti VO, Tubershohshrieh Village, Iasakhilang VO, Pynthorsale Village, IakyntulangVO, Mutong Village, Mutong VO, Larsen VO and Larseng Village. Award for COVID-19 Vaccination Mobilization with 100 % COVID-19 vaccination coverage of age 18 and above was given to Iaseinlang VO and Nangkiewshaphrang VO of Cham Cham Village, Malidor Village and Deilangchirup VO of Mookympad Village.

The other awards that were distributed during the programme included Socio-economic Management during COVID-19 pandemic, Community Mobilization for 100 % HHs Mobilization and SHG Formation and the Best performing BC Agent. Meghalaya Rural Bank – Khliehriat Branch, Wapung Branch and Lad Rymbai Branch received an award for the NRLM SHG Bank linkage Programme.

In the exhibition conducted during the day, stalls were setup for Aadhaar registration and enrolment, MHIS registration also displaying information regarding the opening of SHG bank account, demonstration on digital transaction through micro ATM, enrolment/ registration and formation of SHG, SHG products, Schemes under Fisheries Department and the District Legal Services Authority were also exhibited. Banks of the district including State Bank of India and Meghalaya Rural Bank also took part in the exhibition. A Covid Vaccination Drive was also carried out by the office of the District Medical and Health Officer, East Jaintia Hills District wherein 41 individuals got vaccinated.

Others present in the function were SS Syiemlieh, MCS, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Khliehriat, East Jaintia Hills, NM Momin, Chief Judicial Magistrate cum Secretary District Legal Services Authority, R Pyrtuh, Block Development Officers and T Shylla, Block Development Officers C&RD Block Saipung and Khliehriat respectively.

It may be mentioned that the SHG Mela cum Health Camp can be deemed a success as the exhibition saw a huge participation of people of the district. During the day long exhibition, 14 people enrolled in the Meghalaya Health Insurance Service (MHIS), 9 people enrolled for ADHAAR card, 53 people registered in RSETI, 120 people enrolled in PMSBY, 32 enrolled in APY, 152 enrolled in PMGGY. A total of 50 SHGs opened their bank accounts, 8 VOs opened bank accounts. A Total of 23 numbers of loan was sanctioned today by Meghalaya Rural Bank, Total loan generated was 20 in numbers and a total of Rs. 20,600 Loan repayment was made by the various SHGs of the District.