From SHGs to 'Nirmitee' Cooperative

LokPanchayat has worked towards facilitating economic empowerment of women through formation of SHGs (Self Help Groups). These groups generate micro-credit for the participant women and also build a peer support group.

Nirmitee Industrial Cooperative Society is the epitome of success of Lokpanchayat's SHGs. The Cooperative was formed collectively by the SHGs. It collects, value-adds, and markets the produce by enterprising women from the SHGs. Nirmitee's sale stock currently boasts of a wide variety including Vermi-compost manure, Neem seed powder and extract, herbal medicinal products like Shatavari Powder, Fruit Processing (Mango and Tamrind), Papad making and so on. Nirmitee has invested Rs. 24 Lakhs in its Neem Seed Processing unit. That's huge amount and the business risk taken by women is indicative of their confidence. More than a thousand women are directly involved in the Cooperative Society.

Women's saving groups have led to greater control and bargaining power of women in the decision making processes in their own families as well as in the Gram Panchayat. Several women's groups have started agro-based income generation activities which sustain their links with their agricultural land.