Local communities, specifically in rural areas, are plagued by underdevelopment, imbalanced
development and poverty. Sustainable Development can be attained if the community itself is
empowered. If a large number of people are to be reached effectively for sustainable impact then
community based organized system can bring remarkable results. A key strategy to achieve this is the
introduction of development planning which involves data collection, situation analysis, preparation
of village profile, formulation of plans, consensus building, implementation, monitoring and
evaluation. Such a process, however, should not be undertaken solely by the implementing agency. It
should be participatory. This means involving the local people so that their needs are taken into
consideration and the implementation of the plan is more effective through their participation and
ownership of the programmes.
Moving from 'Welfare' to 'Empowerment', 'Dependency' to 'Development' or 'Subsidies' to 'Self
sustainability' are common issues being advocated. Self Help Groups (SHGs) provide some basic
answers to these issues. SHGs are designed such that people can plan and implement need-based
socio-economic development for themselves, through proper support and participation of local
community, whichwould help in sustainable development. This could be through self help community
groups, micro finance agencies, credit unions, cluster level associations or regional level federations.
Their role and participation can make vital difference in achieving a proper and sustainable
developmentalmomentum.
ICECD has initiated and established such successful SHGs, which are effectively carrying out services
within the socio-economic development sphere, and have achieved self-sufficiency. This programme
is designed, with an aim to share these successful experiences, with all those concerned with and
involved in overall development of disadvantaged and poor people. |
The main objective of the programmeis “To institutionalize development through SHGs by creating an
infrastructure for local social, economic and political activities, for long-term sustainable
development.”
The programmewill aim to achieve this main objective with the help of following sub-objectives:
- To mobilize, create and strengthen people's organization (SHGs).
- To develop SHGs capacity to manage, implement and monitor various community development
interventions for overall development, and attain self-sustainability.
- To institutionalize community development activities (Health, Education, Economic activities for
Poverty Alleviation, Gender issues, Environment) at the SHGs.
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