Dimapur, June 1 (MExN): Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission (NSRLM) concluded its four days of residential Workshop at AIDA, Dimapur from May 28 to 31, where 148 Program Managers and Thematic Area Coordinators of 43 Blocks under 9 Districts participated.
The objective of the workshop was to strengthen the community institutions towards promotion of model federation as financial intermediary for its member SHGs and to ensure universal inclusion.
In her keynote address, Addl. Secretary, RD and Mission Director, NSRLM, Athel O Lotha appreciated the support of the National Mission Management Unit, NRLM, MoRD to NSRLM.
She briefly highlighted the thrust area of the Mission for this FY and encouraged the staff to ask and learn as much as they can so that they are equipped with enhanced knowledge and skills for effective program implementation.
In his formal address, Chief Operating Officer (COO), NSRLM, M. Rollan Lotha reiterated that the lynchpin of a sustainable grassroot Community Institutions is not through beneficiary mode, but of ownership mode.
This collective ownership ensures space, voice and resources for the communities in enabling them to access various entitlements, rights and services at the doorstep. He stated the State Mission continues to consciously intervene through Gender lens in all key areas.
This is fostering establishment of custom hiring centres in the VLO for reducing drudgery for women farmers; enhanced nutrition intake through organic nutritional gardens in the households; and access to water through rainwater harvesting, amongst several other outcomes. With the team’s commitment flame burning consistently high, he envisions the face of rural poverty transforming into thriving rural economy.
Focus area of key thematic for this FY was presented by the concerned State Program Managers, while the District and Block team presented their progress and plans for this FY. Block wise assessment of the current progress and challenges facilitated multiple plenary sessions and District-Block wise planning under key intervention areas.
The key outcomes were on strengthening the Self Help Groups (SHG), and its Village Level Organisation(VLO) particularly in developing annual action plans at the VLO level which will facilitate effective promotion of Model Federations across the Blocks; strategic layering of multiple Livelihoods and Financial Inclusions etc.
As closing remark by the resource persons, Shivaji Choudhury stated that the mission can transform the rural poor from beneficiary to member to being an owner. Pradyut Bhattacharjee emphasized robust systems, processes and empowered members as the driving force in promotion of federation as financial intermediaries.
Girish Pradhan expressed Integration of all thematic as the need to strengthen the Community Institutions.
Bidyut K Basu stressed on fostering SHG members as Bank Facilitators by empowering women to drive Financial Inclusion. Seema Bhaskaran, NMMU, MoRD appreciated the progress the State has made as one of the pilot State for rolling out Gender.
Kavita Maria, NMMU, MoRD commented that the Ministry’s expectation from Nagaland SRLM is more as it is the pilot state amongst the NE. She underscored the visible brimming energy and commitment of the staff towards taking a change in the stance of their approach in how the team engages with community institutions, its leaders and cadres towards sustainable institutions.
Led by the COO, NSRLM the workshop was jointly facilitated by Imonenla Imkong Phom, SPM, NSRLM; NMMU Officials and the National Resource Persons.
