Bhubaneswar: Considering the contribution of women Self-help Groups (SHGs) towards enhancing rural livelihood, they should get trained on branding, packaging and marketing to enable them to get more remunerative price for their products, said State Mission Director-cum-Chief Executive Officer of Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM) Rajesh P Patil.
Addressing a webinar titled, “Self-Employment opportunities for SHGs under the new normal”, organised by Odisha Corporate Foundation (OCF), a non-profit organisation, Patil said, “Apart from encouraging local entrepreneurs, we are also working for commercialisation of area-specific products like Keonjhar ‘badi’ and Kandhamal ‘haldi’ and making these available in supermarkets and other forums.”
“We are giving priority to contract farming, identification of prospective land for pisciculture and quality enhancement of poultry farming. Besides, we are trying to ensure that farmers get maximum profits,” Patil said.
Stating that efforts were on to identify 500 SHGs that could work as entrepreneurs to develop nurseries, he said several organisations have agreed to support these entrepreneurs in creating nutrition gardens. OLM has also signed a contract with Fab India to encourage production of handicraft items out of Sabai grass in Mayurbhanj district and commercialising those.
Patil also proposed OCF to sign an agreement with OLM and catalyse the process of livelihood enhancement in rural areas.
State chief of UNDP Abha Mishra said SHGs play a vital role during emergencies. During the current COVID-19 pandemic, they have reduced the burden of the government by preparing personal protective equipment (PPE) kits, masks and hand-sanitisers. These groups also support in imparting trainings, conducting awareness programmes and managing financial matters.
Head of corporate communication and Group head of corporate social responsibility (CSR) of Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL) Prashant Kumar Hota said there should be simultaneous growth of industries and rural entrepreneurship and both should work for transformation of the society. Industries should always work as the backbone of entrepreneurs and put efforts to make them economically independent.
Head, social incubation and CSR at KIIT’s technology business incubator Surekha Routray said KIIT is trying to provide alternative livelihood to women and encourage them to use new technologies. “While we are supporting them to connect to the marketers, we are also trying to reach out to agricultural entrepreneurs,” she added.
Senior Consultant of MART Abhijeet Mohanty spoke on how to expand a model through marts and involving women in it. Mission Shakti is providing zero-interest loans upto Rs 3 lakh, said its officer on special duty (OSD) Sudhanshu Sekhar Nayak.
Former chief secretary of Odisha Bijay Patnaik, who moderated the webinar, stressed on the importance of a robust marketing system to enhance rural livelihoods through SHGs.
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