By- Babie Shirin
Lucknow,Sept. 27
National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM)- a special scheme of the central government that aims to provide livelihood to rural people has been successfully providing income generation to several self help groups (SHG) in rural areas of Lucknow in UP.
An eight member media team from different media houses of Manipur was on a PIB sponsored tour to Lucknow, Kanpur and Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh to get firsthand experience of livelihood ventures being taken up in rural areas of the state. PIB Deputy Director Abdul Hamid was leading the team.
On the first day of the field visit, the state media team interacted with a self help group called Durga Ma Pehra Cluster Level Federation formed under NRLM in Sorojini Nagar Block under Benti GP in Lucknow district.
During the interaction, centre in charge of SHG Arti conveyed that Sorojini Nagar Block is a village adopted by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh. The SHG has been making solar lamps under NRLM since August 1. Raw materials for making the solar lamps are provided by ministry of renewable energy and they began the production after undergoing a five day long training programme with technical support from IIT Mumbai. Since they took up the production work, the SHG members are now earning their livelihood comfortably.
Arti further informed that cost of the solar lamp in the local market is Rs 700. However, their products are being provided to students in rural area at a subsidised rate of Rs 100. The 13 members SHG is able to produce an average of Rs300 lamps a day and they are getting a profit of Rs 12 per lamp. The SHG is targeting to produce 36,000 units of solar lamp under NRLM, she said, while adding that not only the SHG members are getting an income generating avenue under NRLM but students are also benefiting from the scheme as they are getting the solar lamps at a normal price.
On the other hand, Tar Pir Baba, a SHG in Nijampur Malhor village, is also taking up a much similar venture in producing earthenware. From decorative items to kitchen items the SHG has been successful in exporting products to different cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Patiala.
According to the SHG members they are able to earn Rs 7000 to 8000 a month since they took up ventures by forming the SHG under NRLM. The group has been producing earthen ware at price range of Rs 1 to 2200 per unit. With an objective, to make Lucknow district a plastic free zone, the entire district has replaced disposable glass cup which cost Rs 1 per unit.
Meanwhile, NRLM Lucknow districts deputy commissioner Satish Mishra said that the government has been facilitating as many as 2500 SHGs by providing them suitable income generation ventures under NRLM. The government is providing loans to these SHGs so that they could develop their ventures and socio economic condition. Moreover NRLM authority has providing marketing and transportation facility for them.
