Members covered under insurance schemes 375026

More than Child’s Play

Sanjeevini Champion: Jyothi, Kadur taluk

Poverty forced Jyothi to drop out of school and shackled her until Sanjeevini helped realise her entrepreneurial dreams. With skill training and financial literacy, this young woman in rural Chikkamagaluru district has become self reliant and supports her family.

Financial empowerment has led to a major shift in the mindset of the village folks and improved the social status of Jyothi’s family and is helping remove the taboo surrounding backward communities.

Jyothi belongs to an economically backward and scheduled community. Her parents could not afford to send her to school beyond Class VII, and much to her disappointment, the lack of jobs in her village meant that she had to be a housewife.

Her innate drive made her seek out opportunities for self-employment and she joined the Sri Punyakoti Mahila SHG of Nidaghatta village in Kadur taluk, Chikkamagaluru district. When a non-farm team from Sanjeevini visited her village to inform SHG members about various livelihood activities that they could take up apart from farming, Jyothi’s dream was back on track. Impressed by her determination, the BMMU team advised her in starting a business of stuffed dolls. A market survey revealed that there was scope for such a store as it would attract buyers from 10 nearby villages, who otherwise had to travel 30 km to the nearest store to purchase a stuffed doll. Jyothi, after much deliberation with her family members, decided to take the entrepreneurial plunge. The Sanjeevini Non-Farm Team sent Jyothi to Chikkamagaluru for a month to learn the art of making stuffed dolls, and subsequently sent her to the Entrepreneurship Development Programme at RSETI, Chikkamagaluru. Jyothi used her personal savings of Rs.25,000 and was assisted by the financial inclusion team of Sanjeevini to get a bank loan of Rs.25,000. She also took an internal loan from her SHG to the tune of Rs.25,000, and with a budget of Rs.75,000 she started her stuffed doll business. In the first three months of setting up shop, she made a net profit of Rs.15,000. In the following months her net profits have remained steady. Financial literacy programmes conducted by Sanjeevini have taught her how to balance her books and not slip into losses. The store that Jyothi set up has made her famous as the ‘doll lady’ in the taluk. Beyond boosting the family income, her business has raised their social stature.

Bountiful Blossom

Sanjeevini Champion: Mangalagowri, Kadur taluk

The orange hue of the kanakambara flowers known as ‘firecracker’ or ‘tropical flame’ (crossandra infundibuliformis) that light up the slopes of the Western Ghats in the Malnad region of Karnataka have proved to be the spark of life for Sanjeevini champion Mangalagowri.

The blossoming of the kanakambara flower is symbolic of the positive developments in Mangalagowri’s life, thanks to the intervention of the Sanjeevini team. This enterprise has made Mangalagowri a role model for the women in her village, and heralds the beginning of a slow revolution in this small village in Karnataka.

Mangalagowri belongs to an economically backward family. Her husband works as a driver and his earnings were not enough to feed and care for the family of four, and even working as seasonal farm hands did not bring them sufficient income. Keen to share financial responsibility, Mangalagowri wondered if she could become a full-time horticulture farmer. She joined the Chowdeshwari Self Help Group of Vanvarike village, Sakarainaya gram panchayat, Kadur taluk, Chikkamagaluru district. At the Ward Level Federation meeting, the project director of the Horticulture Department explained the benefits of cultivating kanakambara. As there is huge demand for these flowers in the state, conversion from an annual to a perennial crop would provide steady alternate income. Equipped with this information and the support of the Block Mission Management Unit, Mangala began the process of cultivating the flower on her two acre farm. The financial inclusion team of Sanjeevini helped Mangalagowri obtain a loan of Rs.8,000 from the Pragathi Krishna Gramin Bank. Further, she was provided with Rs.20,000 from the CIF money disbursed to her SHG. She also drew Rs.15,000 as internal borrowing from her SHG. With a cumulative amount of Rs.43,000 and the assistance of the BMMU team, she procured seeds from Raitha Samparka Kendra to cultivate her land. After a soil fertility test was conducted, she applied the plant gene therapy technique to convert her annual crop to a perennial one. With this conversion and using a drip irrigation system she was able to yield a good harvest in the first year. Apart from learning new techniques of horticulture, she also learnt about market linkages and logistics which helped preserve her harvest while reaping more revenue. She is now on the verge of expanding her crop by leasing more land.

Bold Steps

Sanjeevini Champion: Shalini, Holalkere taluk

The life of this young woman in Chitradurga district is a testament to Sanjeevini’s potential to empower women and guide them towards better lives.

Shalini says, “With the help of Sanjeevini, I have been able to provide for my family financially. I am also able to help my elder sister and my younger brother in their education. My parents are very happy and we are getting a lot of respect in our village, and I feel that I have proved my worth.”

Chitradurga receives less than ideal rains and though Shalini’s family owned 1.5 acres of agricultural land in HD Pura village of Holalkere taluk in Chitradurga district, it lacked adequate irrigation. Her father struggled to provide for the family of 5 members, and Shalini decided to help her father shoulder the responsibility of running the family. She became a beneficiary of the Sanjeevini NRLM programme after joining the Aishwarya Lakshmi SHG and began saving Rs.20 per week. This SHG belongs to Shri Jyoti Ward Level Federation of HD Pura and Shri Lakshminarasimha Swamy Sanjeevini Gram Panchayat Level Federation.

Shalini secured an internal loan from the group and invested in the manufacture of areca nut plates. Later, she borrowed Rs.50,000 from the Krishna Rural Bank and purchased an areca nut plate making machine. In addition, she got a loan of Rs.25,000 under the Sanjeevini scheme to establish her business. The Sanjeevini team sent her to a 3-day EDP at RSETI.

Shalini maintains meticulous accounts and sets aside money to pay for raw material and labour each month. She sells each plate at Rs.3 and sells around 100 plates a day in Holalkere, Hosadurga and Chitradurga. She earns Rs.15,000 to Rs.18,000 a month from the sale of arecanut plates and wants to expand the business.

On the Highway to Success

“The training and financial support provided to SHGs in the district has succeeded in giving a major boost to the livelihood of rural women, and two Highway Hubs that the SHGs have started have become a model institution,” says Dr. Selvamani R, Chief Executive Officer, Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat.

Under instructions from the CEo, Gram Panchayats provided space in the market to womenled SHGs to open a shop. Women members fix nominal prices, with a small profit margin, for the goods that they make and take turns selling them at the shop. As their customers are also members of SHGs, everybody benefits. The shops have begun selling tea and offering services like tailoring.

Most of the SHG members who have received CIF in Dakshina Kannada district are engaged in livelihood activities such as poultry, animal husbandry, agri-related works, areca nut plate making, mushroom farming and beekeeping.

Noteworthy livelihood enterprises include: ● Restaurant run by SHG members in an NRLM work shed, enabled by a bank loan ● 17 cotton cloth bag units operate in space provided by gram panchayats as a part of the convergence of the Swachh Bharat Mission and the Education department ● Doormat making units that recycle used and waste cotton cloth materials 11 out of 57 NRLM common work sheds have been completed and SHG members are using them for livelihood purposes. Work is in progress on creating 5 rural haats (markets).

Six hundred women who are part of SHGs are engaged in livelihood activities including animal husbandry such as dairy farming, goat rearing, piggery, poultry; horticulture and agri-related works: such as mushroom cultivation; handicrafts such as pottery, pen making, leaf plate making units and food products such as baked goods, cashew processing and homemade products.

Eco-friendly Self-employment

Sanjeevini Champion: Ratnamma, Belthangady taluk

Convenience and conservation require a delicate balance, and this champion in Dakshina Kannada district offers both by making eco-friendly, disposable plates made of arecanut bark.

“My life has changed for the better financially, and I have made a name for myself in society thanks to Sanjeevini.”

Ratnamma of Shibaje village, Belthangady taluk belongs to the farming community and the five members in her family were finding it difficult to eke out a livelihood.

As a member of the Adarsha SHG for the past five years, she used to get by with internal loans when she required money to tide her over. When this SHG joined the Sanjeevini scheme, the staff informed her about the beneficial schemes offered by the government under NRLM. Encouraged by the staff and her family, Ratnamma took a loan from Sanjeevini and purchased a plate manufacturing machine. “We collect arecanut bark from growers in our town to manufacture the plates and sell them to shops in the market. From the profits, we returned the loan in instalments systematically. We also had enough money left to buy another machine. As there is a lot of demand for paper plates, I have employed two women at my unit.”

Against all Odds

Sanjeevini Champion: Noor Jahan, Belthangady taluk

The purchase of a cow with the help of Sanjeevini has transformed the lives of Noor Jahan and her family in Dakshina Kannada district, and participating in SHG activities has given her a social identity, says this Sanjeevini champion.

“Sanjeevini has provided me with the courage and financial assistance to create an alternative source of income to support my family. It has helped improve my social, cultural and economic status”, says Noor Jahan.

A resident of Navura village in Belthangady taluk, Noor Jahan hails from a humble family of eight whose main source of livelihood is agriculture. As farming is inevitably subject to the vicissitudes of the seasons, they struggled for sustenance. Her life had transformed after a self help group was initiated in her village. She joined the group and motivated other women facing similar struggles to become members too. The Navura SHG was registered under Sanjeevini when the National Rural Livelihood Mission was initiated in the village in 2017. Noor Jahan first took a loan of Rs.75,000 under Sanjeevini and bought a cow. She began selling milk and using cow dung to improve soil fertility on their small farm. Encouraged by the success of her efforts, she bought another cow, and now expects to increase her monthly earning of Rs.5,000. “I joined the self help group five years ago. The group has 10 members and we meet once a week. Whenever we need money, we take an internal loan from the savings of the group and return the same in weekly instalments. So far, I have availed myself of Rs.20,000 from the group”, says Noor Jahan. The SHG stays abreast of government schemes as, “we receive timely updates about government programmes from Sanjeevini and the society officials are always ready to help us”, she adds. Her association with the group has made her financially as well as socially independent. It has also helped her children receive basic education. “I participate in all the activities of Sanjeevini. The best part of this association is that I get to mingle with other women and this has given me a social identity”, she adds.

A Model of Enablement

Keerthi Sanjeevini SHG, Puttur taluk

For the members of this self help group, success is measured by the fact that they don’t have to depend on their families for every rupee, and are now financially independent.

“We owe a lot to Sanjeevini. The CEo and team members have been guiding us constantly. We have now become role models in our community and are invited as chief guests to all community celebrations”, says Shameem Unnisa Akthar, a member of the Keerthi Sanjeevini SHG.

Sanjeevini Interventions:

Rs.15 lakh as CIF to the Milana GPLF; in turn it disbursed Rs.1.75 lakh to the Keerthi Sanjeevini SHG SHG members guided in accounts management

Each member earns Rs.20,000 to Rs.30,000 per month

Keerthi SHG of Kaukrady village, Puttur taluk of Dakshina Kannada district consists of 10 members. Established in 2002, the group originated under the umbrella of the Model Development Centre, Ichlampady, Puttur taluk. The group, whose members hail from minority communities, has helped increase the savings of its members through self employment. Keerthi Sanjeevini SHG is a member of the Milana GPLF, established under the jurisdiction of Kaukrady Gram Panchayat. The group now has a total deposit of Rs.1.3 lakh with a savings bank. The SHG has also availed an internal loan of Rs.3.22 lakh and a bank loan of Rs.7.95 lakh, apart from the CIF for self-employment initiatives. The funds received from the GPLF have enabled the group members in exploring various self-employment opportunities in dairy farming, sheep rearing, poultry farming, tailoring and running flour mills. The SHG also helps the members in hiring shamiana and vessels at rates lower than ones prevailing in the market. Such endeavours have not only boosted the financial status of the members, but also enabled them in meeting their needs on their own. The Keerthi SHG members, who were living in utter poverty, are now confidently managing their personal finances and leading self sufficient and dignified lives.

A Collective Endeavour

Sanjeevini Highway Hub, Puttur taluk

An amalgamation of five self help groups, the Sanjeevini Highway Hub also known as the Sanjeevini Market, serves as a common sales touchpoint that supports several women in Kadaba Gram Panchayat, Puttur taluk of Dakshina Kannada district. The Highway Hub functions as a pit stop for travellers needing refreshments and also offers local produce for sale.

The Highway Hub is yet another successful endeavour by Sanjeevini towards the economic and social empowerment of the women in rural Karnataka.

Sanjeevini Interventions

A workshed cum outlet, in collaboration with the Gram Panchayat, acts as a common sales channel near Kadaba market

The Srinidhi Sanjeevini GPLF, sanctioned CIF of Rs.75,000 to SHGs

Plan to set up 25 similar outlets

SHG members have taken up various livelihood activities such as making cotton bags, pottery, jewellery making, clothes and more.

In January 2020, the Chief Secretary of the state presided over a landmark event in Puttur taluk in Dakshina Kannada district. It was the inaugural of an unique market, the Highway Hub set up by five self help groups of the Kadaba Gram Panchayat-the Deepa Sanjeevini SHG, the Suraksha Sanjeevini SHG, the Gayatri Sanjeevini SHG, the Prathibha Sanjeevini SHG and the Soundarya Sanjeevini SHG. While SHG members are also engaged in tailoring, goat rearing, dairy farming and poultry farming, this hub serves as a one-stop shop for a variety of local produce and products such as vegetables, sambar powder, arecanut plates, pain-relief oils, nursery plants, phenyl, liquid soap and detergent powder. The market came into being following a discussion in November 2019, at a meeting of the Srinidhi Sanjeevini GPLF, the Panchayat Development officer and programme organisers of the district. The topic of discussion was the role of SHGs in the creation of self employment opportunities and organisation of a fair to boost the sales of SHG-made products. The Highway hub was built with the collaboration of the President of Gram Panchayat and Panchayat Development officer. Srija, Secretary of the GPLF, was appointed to oversee the operations of the Highway Hub. A tailor at the facility, Srija, along with other tailors have also contributed towards the Swachh Bharat Mission by making and distributing low-priced cloth bags at several locations such as Perakhe, Noojibaltila, Mardala, Kadaba, Ramakunj, Kodimbadi, Kutruppadi and Kaukradi gram panchayat of the Puttur taluk. Self help group members are delighted with the result of the hub; “The Highway Hub has transformed my life. I am a tailor and after the hub came up, I started a cotton bag making unit along with other SHG members. our bags are much in demand at the hub, and we also supply them to gram panchayats and shops in Puttur and Mangaluru”, says Srija. Enthused by the success of the Highway Hub, Dr. Selvamani, CEo, Zilla Panchayat, Dakshina Kannada says, “We plan to start 25 more such Highway Hubs and open them to all SHGs of the district as sales points.” The success of the hub led to a large-scale village fair, organised under the Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Scheme in 5 areas (Hirebandadi, Balepuni, Kashipatla, Panja and Subrahmanya). There is a plan to open the fair to women entrepreneurs by the end of 2020.

The Right Step

Sanjeevini Champion: Ashvini J, Davanagere taluk

For a landless labourer to set up her own shop is a big step indeed in rural India, and this Sanjeevini champion has demonstrated grit and ambition in achieving this.

An active member of the self help group for the last three years, Ashvini has used the Sanjeevini scheme to her benefit.

Ashvini J belongs to a very poor family in Bethur village in Davanagere taluk of Davanagere district. She earned a pittance as a daily wager alongside her husband in local farms, and hoped to increase her earnings by taking up alternative work in the village. She joined the Sri Pranathi self help group three years ago, and opened a petty shop. She invested Rs.25,000 and received an internal loan of Rs.75,000 from the SHG provided by NRLM Sanjeevini via the Bethur Gram Panchayat. She purchased a weighing machine and commodities to set up shop. over a period of time, she invested Rs.2.5 lakh in her business and is able to pay loan instalments regularly as fixed by the self help group. She says proudly that her business acumen has improved after joining the self help group; her economic condition has improved and social standing has increased considerably.

A Shiny Success

Sanjeevini Champion: Chimitha, Channagiri taluk

Bringing together women from her tribe has helped this daily wager in Davanagere district establish a better life as a producer of natural products.

Though a poor and illiterate tribal, Chimitha has shown the way to improving living standards in her village and has become a model to the other women in the village. Married at a very young age, Chimitha, a woman from the Hakki Pikki tribe, joined her husband in working in farms as daily wagers in Gopanalu village in Channagiri taluk, of Davanagere district. Tired of the unchanging work and circumstances, she reached out to other women of the tribe in the village. Twenty of them got together to form the Hakki Pikki Girijana Mahila self help group in 2008. They began modestly with weekly savings of Rs.20 each and opened an account with the Karnataka Grameena Bank, Channagiri that lent from their savings to needy members of the group. In 2011, Chimitha contacted the Channagiri Taluk Panchayat office and received information about the Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana; with this, she obtained a loan from the local Grameen bank and a subsidy from the state government for the SHG. As the secretary of the group, she encouraged members to take up activities such as making hair oil from plants from the Joldal forest, collecting dry fruits for sale etc. Even as this business gained ground, Chimitha developed an interest in making toys and garlands. She discussed the prospects of making these on a large scale for sale in different markets and many of the members took it up, generating a good income. While her innovative ideas and drive have helped the SHG prosper, Chimitha has done well for herself. She took a loan under Rajiv Gandhi Chaitanya Yojana Scheme to develop her business and has repaid it promptly. She also participated in Krishi Melas at Moodabidri and Shivamogga. She is an office bearer of the NRLM Sanjeevini Harohalli GPLF, Channagiri taluk and has played an active role in the Zilla Panchayat’s Swachh Bharat Mission drives for toilets for each household and waste segregation and disposal. She has a strong desire to continue working with SHGs and spread the message in the neighbouring villages.

Stitching a Better Future

The women members of 26 SHGs in this district are a busy lot and their activities have a dual purpose: not only are they able to get a secondary source of income for their families, they are keeping alive the traditional craft of the region kasuti (embroidery).

Apart from kasuti, the women’s self help groups make handloom sarees ethnic to the region and are also engaged in activities such as making jowar rotis and fiery chilli powder, growing and selling vegetables, seeds and saplings, animal husbandry and marketing of milk products. “Products made by women SHG members in Dharwad district will soon have pride of place as each GPLF will provide a dedicated space for display and sale of such products”, says Dr. BC Satheesha, CEo, Dharwad Zilla Panchayat. There are 2,058 SHGs functioning under NRLM and 26,262 households have been mobilized. The Sanjeevini programme helps in mobilising the women, strengthening the groups and establishing new micro-enterprises at village level. Women members participate actively in meetings of the Ward and Gram Sabha.

The focus of SHGs is mainly on Karnataka Kasuti which originates in Dharwad. This handmade embroidery is formed in unique geometrical patterns, and it’s quite common to see it not only on sarees but also on dress materials and furnishings.

Reviving Bamboo Crafts

Shree Kateshwara Sanjeevini SHG, Kalghatgi taluk

Going back to traditional bamboo craft, this self help group in Dharwad district has tapped into a market for eco-friendly products for daily use and for home decor.

“Sanjeevini has made our lives better and our financial condition has improved. With the government’s credit facilities and guidance of Sanjeevini officials, we now lead a comparatively easier life”, says Renuka Channabasappa Medar.

Sanjeevini Interventions:

TMMU convergence team, Dharamasthala RUDSETI trained the group members in making bamboo handicrafts and decorative products

Consolidation of the SHG through various capacity building programmes

Bank loans at low interest rates

Educated the SHG members about sustainable livelihood methods, internal borrowing mechanism, maintenance of books of records, health reforms and active participation in Panchayat Raj institutions

CIF

: Rs.1.25 lakh Infrastructure : Workshed provided by Gram Panchayat Increase in production : from Rs.10,000 to 20,000 Average monthly sales in 2020 : Rs.20,000

Shree Kateshwara Sanjeevini SHG in Galagi Hulkoppa village, Kalghatgi taluk, Dharwad District was established in January 2011. It comprises 10 members who were daily wage labourers.

Thanks to Sanjeevini, the members were trained by artists from Bengaluru at the Rural Development & Self-employment Training Institute, and have added a modern flavour to an old tradition of making bamboo baskets, decorative items, mats and ropes. Sanjeevini staff have been providing motivation and encouragement to the members to keep up the good work despite household hardships. “The women used to earn a monthly income of Rs.10,000 – Rs.12,000 before joining the group. Now, they earn about Rs.15,000–Rs.20,000. Every rupee strengthens our economic stability”, says Renuka Channabasappa Medar, the president of the group. Members stay abreast of various government schemes and programmes, and have successfully participated in two SARAS fairs. The group invests Rs.75,000 to participate in a SARAS fair, and earns a profit of Rs.35,000; apart from the money, participating in such fairs is important as it gives them insights about customer tastes and effective business strategy. Their products have also been uploaded on the Government E-Market portal to improve their reach and customer base. “We hope for a wider reach and look forward to awards and recognition from the state government”, says Renuka.

Capitalizing on Craft

Shree Vishwa Bharathi Stree Shakthi Swasahaya Sangha, Dharwad taluk

Members of self help groups in Dharwad have earned the reputation of being active and assiduous, and the Shree Vishwa Bharathi Stree Shakthi Swasahaya Sangha is an apt case study.

“our income has increased along with the respect we get as members of the self help group. This has been possible because of Sanjeevini”, says Awakka Gudamani, a group member.

Sanjeevini Interventions:

Helped secure a rural bank loan of Rs.2 lakh as seed capital

Annual income of each member has increased manifold; from Rs.10,000 to Rs.20,000-Rs.50,000

Participation in 5 SARAS Melas

Products registered on GEM

Shree Vishwa Bharathi Stree Shakthi Swasahaya Sangha in Upinabetagere village of Dharwad taluk, Dharwad district consists of 12 members who make traditional handloom sarees.

The SHG was formed in August 2000, after the Institution Building and Capacity Building team at the Taluk Mission Management Unit conducted awareness programmes for the most vulnerable groups at the Gram Panchayat level in their respective taluks. Sharada Shinagari, one of the group leaders, attended the meetings and recognized an opportunity. Encouraged by the awareness sessions, she and a few other members requested the TMMU staff for the required assistance to start their entrepreneurial journey. The members had the skill but not the capital and the financial inclusion team sanctioned a loan through a regional rural bank to the tune of Rs.2 lakh as seed capital to fuel the initiation. The members, primarily daily wage labourers, used to earn an annual income between Rs.10,000–Rs.20,000. After joining the SHG, their annual incomes have risen to Rs.20,000–Rs.50,000. The SHG has taken part in five SARAS Melas across the country. With an average investment of Rs.1.5 lakh per fair, the group has made profits of about Rs.55,000 from each fair. Their products have also been added on the government e-commerce portal.

Nurturing Institutions

Gadag Zilla Panchayat is proud of the fact that the recovery rate of the Community Investment Fund in the district is more than 90%, and has launched two new initiatives under the Sanjeevini-NRLM programme: farmers’ markets and women-led milk federations.

Dr. Anandh K, Chief Executive officer, Gadag Zilla Panchayat, explains the key effects of implementing the KSRLPS-Sanjeevini programme in the district: ¿ Social Inclusion: The programme has been able to reach out to 61,797 households of poorest of the poor, of which over 80% are vulnerable households. ¿ Creation of Institutional Platform: After creating an institutional platform for these SHGs, existing and new SHGs have been federated in to Ward Level

Federation and Gram Panchayat Level Federation. Presently, 547 WLFs and 122 GPLFs are functioning under NRLM in Gadag district. ¿ Capacity Building: Since the strengthening of these incubated institutions is crucial in terms of sustainability in the long term, SHGs are trained in following the panchasutras, MIPs and other required models. To ensure a regular book keeping system, book keepers have been identified and trained. Similarly, WLFs and GPLFs have been trained on managing their day-to-day activities. Apart from this, sub committees have also been trained in their responsibilities and to focus on specific tasks. ¿ Nurturing and regular monitoring of institutions: Nurturing and monitoring systems play a vital role in running institutions of the community. To ensure this, the dedicated staff at taluk and district level regularly visit and guide the smooth functioning of SHGs and federations. As a result of this, the recovery rate of

Community Investment Fund in the district is more than 90%. Similarly, the regular progress review meeting with community cadres, especially with MBKs at the taluk level is conducted periodically and their progress is monitored with each indicator. ¿ Convergence with MGNREGA: With the support from MGNREGA, provision of common work sheds facility has been started in 29 GPs and out of which 4 common work sheds construction have been completed under convergence. These promises will help the SHG members to make their production or value adding process, who are involved in any activities either in the farm or non-farm sector. Construction of 25 GP common work sheds is under progress.

Credit facilities:

Establishment of a proper monitoring system at the field level boosts the repayment rate from the SHGs. Micro Enterprise Project: With the collaboration of Kudumbashree NRo (National Resource organisation), a Micro Enterprises Consultant project was launched in 2014-15 with the following objectives: ¾ To network with CBos (SHGs, WLFs and GPLFs) ¾ Identify entrepreneurs and assess their interests and skills ¾ Provide general orientation training for aspiring entrepreneurs ¾ Guide entrepreneurs to obtain skills and finance through various sources like, SHG federations, banks, govt. departments, RSETI, KVK, etc. ¾ Guide entrepreneurs to obtain raw materials and market linkages for business ¾ Train and guide entrepreneurs in maintaining accounts through a performance tracking system ¾ Diagnose health of the business and advise the entrepreneur ¾ Guide existing entrepreneurs through regular consultation ¾ Arrange bank linkages ¾ Arrange training linkages with government and non-government agencies After the implementation of the MEC project in Gadag district, capacity building training support was given to 1,044 newly established Micro Enterprise units and 184 existing units.

New initiatives: Farmers’ Markets: Gadag district is well-known for its agriculture and allied produce like jowar, chickpea, wheat and vegetables etc. The lack of local markets was a challenge for farmers to sell or purchase goods. To address this issue, Sanjeevini-NRLM started farmers’ markets in 44 villages with the help of SHGs and federations. This initiation has helped 44 villages and 1,779 SHG entrepreneurs in purchasing/selling in their vicinity. Milk Federations: To promote dairy entrepreneurs, 34 villages were surveyed, in collaboration with the Karnataka Milk Federation. The result showed that there was potential for a women-led milk federation in 26 villages. One such federation has been launched and 25 are under progress.

Focus areas of SHGs in district:

Focus area of the SHGs in District (CIF utilisation)

2.55 6.11

11.66

1

2

15.33

20.88

3

4

Timely initiative

Self help groups in Gadag district have been proactive in making masks in view of the outbreak of COVID-19 virus, and their initiative serves the twin purposes of providing employment opportunities to SHG members and caring for the health of the community.

Mask production has become a timely livelihood opportunity for SHGs.

Information about precautionary measures and social distancing to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus was communicated throughout the state. And as in urban areas, people in rural Karnataka too began to look for personal protective gear such as masks.

When the demand for masks increased, people found that they weren't able to get them in the local markets or that the prices were very high. That’s when it occurred to members of self help groups in villages in the district that they could make masks themselves in their villages. Some of the women work as tailors in the villages like Hole Alur (Ron), Abbigeri (Ron), Kurthkoti (Gadag) and other taluks in the district. Says Basavaraj G Mulimani, District Manager, Zilla Panchayat, Gadag, “When women members of self help groups started stitching cloth masks using locally available cotton cloths, The Sanjeevini NRLM staff and community cadre were quick to guide them about the technical aspects like size and type of cloth to be used.”

As soon as the SHG members started to produce masks, they found a steady demand from local medical shops, gram panchayats, banks, the Health Department and other agencies. Mask production has become a timely livelihood opportunity for some of the needy women. Rekha Veerapur from Abbigeri village in Ron block, who is involved in sewing masks says, “When I started to stitch masks in my village, initially the demand was not much. But gradually people realised the importance of wearing masks and the local gram panchayat, medical stores and individuals started to buy them from me. Now I am able to sell more than 3,000 masks in and around my village. I am very happy not because I am earning more but that I am able to help people avoid risking their health”. Nilofer Khaji from Hole Alur village in Ron block, who also sold around 2,500 masks, is happy to state that, “I am able to stitch masks in different sizes and of different types, as per the need. I am proud of myself when people of my village walk by wearing my masks.”

MASK PRODUCTION IN GADAG DISTRICT (AS ON 08.04.2020)

SL NO Taluk Number of GPLFs involved

1 Gadag 4

2 Mundaragi 4 3 Naragund 6

4 Ron 5

5 Shirahatti 2 Number SHGs involved Number of members involved Number of masks produced

6 16 1,200 10,000

10 14 2,000 15,750

11 15 432 6,480

13 30 17,400 1,45,200

3 8 560 11,200

ToTAL 21

43 83 21,592 1,88,630

Adding Value

Sanjeevini Champion: Ratna Konnur, Naragund taluk

Bangles are a favourite adornment of Indian women, and for a poor agricultural labourer in Gadag district, it has become a symbol of prosperity.

Thanks to Sanjeevini, Ratna Konnur has realised her dream of educating her children.

Ratna Konnur was born in a poor family from a backward community. She studied till Class 10, after which as with most rural women, she got married at the early age of 18 years to Vinayak from Konnur village in Naragund taluk. Her husband is a carpenter and his earnings were unable to meet the expenditure of the entire family. Ratna began work as an agricultural labourer to help provide for her family and to educate their three children.

The family struggled despite the additional income, and when Ratna discussed her problem with her neighbors, she was encouraged to enroll as a member of an SHG. other women in the neighborhood had similar problems and they came together to form the Shree Gramadevathe Sanjeevini SHG. started lending internally to members. Soon after, with the formation of GPLF under SanjeeviniNRLM scheme, the SHG was granted a Community Investment Fund of Rs.1.25 lakh. Ratna, who was looking for a new livelihood opportunity, decided to start a bangle store by taking a loan of Rs.35,000 from the CIF available. Initially sales were not good and the Non-Farm team of Sanjeevini advised her to sell the bangles at weekly fairs and in and nearby village markets. This increased her sales substantially and prompted her to open up a stationery store with a loan of Rs.50,000 from a local bank. Through her entrepreneurial journey Ratna is able to earn Rs.15,000 per month. Ratna says, “I am happy that I joined the Sanjeevini self help group, as I am able to realise my dream of giving a good education to my children.”

Towards a Plastic-free Future

Dhanammadevi Sanjeevini SHG, Ron taluk

Even as campaigns and initiatives to combat the damaging impacts of single-use plastics have gathered pace across the globe, villagers in the heart of Karnataka have come together to work towards a plastic-free nation, thanks to the leadership of a women’s self help group.

The Dhanammadevi Sanjeevini SHG is an extraordinary example of women who can lead transformations in society.

Sanjeevini Interventions:

CIF: Rs.75,000

Training in tailoring and bag making

Training in marketing techniques

Workplace allotted by Gram Panchayat

500 metres of fabric and threads for manufacturing bags donated by Panchayat

In 2018, the Gram Panchayat of Abbigere village of Ron taluk took the initiative of banning singleuse plastic bags from all the shops in the village. Championing this move was the Dhanammadevi Sanjeevini SHG which had proved that villages would be receptive to such a move. The 10 members of this group make cloth bags as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic. Their achievement in combining financial sustenance with environmental consciousness has gained the attention of many, including Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa who mentioned them in a tweet. After enrolling in the Sanjeevini programme in 2014, the members were given a week’s training in sewing and screen printing by a Gadag-based NGo. “Initially we tried to start a garment unit but realized that the investment would entail a huge loan which none of us wanted to take. Then we started doing some tailoring work individually. We saw an opportunity when the initiative for plasticfree Gadag was announced along with a call for self help groups to make bags. We signed up and the Sanjeevini team sent us for training to RSETI”, says Lakshmamma, the group president. The group began to make cloth bags from e-purposed and upcycled old clothes for distribution to local households and shops, to help in the gradual elimination of plastic. Villagers eagerly donated their old clothes and SHG members made bags of three capacities: 1 kg, 3 kg and 5 kg. The first set of bags were distributed free of cost to all families and shops in the village. The group makes 60,000 bags per week, which it sells at Rs.2 per bag, and some members are able to earn as much as Rs.3,000 a week. This initiative has garnered attention from surrounding areas and it has received several orders from the PDos of nearby villages, including 1,000 bags to Bagalkote district.

Hassan

Small Gesture, Big Change

Ganapathi Sanjeevini SHG, Hassan taluk

Sometimes a small gesture is an indicator of a big change. Thus when Kamalamma, president of Ganapathi Sanjeevini SHG, says, “I feel very proud every time I receive a government order, and whenever we visit an office our members are received warmly by the head who asks us to sit down to discuss business and gives us coffee”. This polite gesture is a milestone for the rural poor and shows their growing empowerment.

“We are really happy after joining Sanjeevini. Sanjeevini is a rainbow for vulnerable people”, says Kamalamma, a member of the Ganapathi Sanjeevini self help group.

Sanjeevini Interventions:

10-day training at RSETI, Hassan, in phenyl, bleaching powder, soap oil, detergent powder and candle-making

Participation in fairs such as Pradeshika Mela, Hobli resulting in increased promotion, marketing and sales.

Bank loan of Rs.3 lakh to diversify range of cleaning products, with easy repayment instalments.

Introductions to government departments

The group has rented a building at Bikkodu paying a low rent of Rs.500. From 400 litres, its monthly production has increased to 650 litres. Each member earns Rs.10,000 per month.

Ganapathi Sanjeevini SHG in Belur Block of Lakkunda Gram Panchayat in Hassan district consists of 12 women. This group is associated with the Pragathi WLF and the Mallige GPLF. Established in August 2013, it manufactures cleaning products and toiletries such as soaps, detergent powder and bleaching powder. Driven by an urge for financial independence, and inspired by other SHGs, the group members underwent primary product training at RSETI, Hassan. After opening a small unit, the group began manufacturing disinfectants and household cleaning products. The raw materials were mostly sourced from the local markets of Hassan and members used to sell their products door-to-door. With not much response for the products and limited exposure, the group members suffered a setback. Sanjeevini introduced the group to several government-sponsored exhibitions that helped a great deal in marketing and promotion of the products. The Pradeshika Mela proved to be a major opportunity for the SHG. The exposure led to a manifold increase in sales and their products began to be recognised in surrounding areas. Backed by the Sanjeevini programme, Ganapathi Sanjeevini SHG availed a bank loan of Rs.50,000 to expand its range of products, and its customer base gradually increased. The cleaning products were sold to the local markets in bulk. The Taluk Panchayat and the Zilla Panchayat of Hassan introduced the group to government departments from whom it has secured orders, as well. “our customers include schools, wholesale shops and weekly markets. Efficient book management is very important for the business.” says Kamalamma, a member of the group. Ganapathi Sanjeevini SHG is registered under Udyog Aadhar and GEM; it plans to apply for CIF to move to a larger manufacturing unit and employ 100 women in the area.

The identity and income has provided the members financial security and dignity.

Milling a Change

Sanjeevini Champion: Shruti Naganagoudar, Hirekerur taluk

This young woman has overcome the barriers of caste by setting up a small flour mill unit and is financially independent, thanks to Sanjeevini.

“Not only am I able to earn a decent income, I have gained confidence and am able to talk to people and deal with banks”, says Shruti.

Shruti Chandrashekar Naganagoudar of Suttakoti village in Hirekerur taluk, Haveri district continued to struggle even with a basic education of SSLC. Belonging to an oBC family of seven, she found the income from the small landholding of 1.5 acres insufficient.

The Master Community Resource Person of the Sanjeevini programme motivated her to join a self help group. She joined the Annapoorneswari SHG in 2017 and learnt the importance of saving each month. Members were guided to start a Federation and received Community Investment Funds. When Shruti expressed interest in setting up a livelihood enterprise, she received EDP training at RSETI. With the help of NRLM staff and MBK/LCRP, she got an internal loan from the SHG of Rs.24,000 and a CIF amount of Rs.20,000 to set up the flour mill.

She earns Rs.6,000 each month and plans to get a loan to expand the business.

Cementing a Bright Future

The Sanjeevini programme in Kalaburagi district has a broad ambit for SHGs and its focus is on bringing in all those on the fringes into the mainstream of the economy.

Women who are members of self help group in Kalaburagi district have used the CIF given under the Sanjeevini NRLM scheme to carry out various livelihood activities such as setting up small mud and cement brick plants, pottery making, sanitary napkin manufacturing plant, Lambani kasuti, Ilkal saree embroidery, jaggery vending centre, vermicelli making, bakery, paper plate manufacturing unit, apart from maintaining livestock such as dairy, sheep and poultry. Says Dr. Raja P, CEo, Kalaburagi Zilla Panchayat, “The Sanjeevini NRLM scheme has played a significant role in promoting livelihood activities, especially of women, through self help groups, and this has helped enhance their socio-economic and educational conditions. The scheme has not only up-skilled them to meet present day needs, but has also helped them to reinvent their livelihoods.”

GPLFs have been created

SHGs have been integrated into GPLFs WLFs and new SHGs have been formed

Close to 70,000 families are benefitted.

Women belonging to rural poor households and vulnerable groups are organised through self help groups by the District Mission Management Unit. Under the project, 90 people have been identified as Master Community Resource Persons, 198 Community Resource Persons, 160 Master Book keepers, and 33 people have been trained to develop self help livelihood activities.

Monthly meetings of GPLFs help in identifying rural women below the poverty line, Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribes, disabled, landless, sex workers, sexual minorities and migrant workers who are willing to start livelihood activities. These meetings have helped facilitate the starting of 1,206 small capital projects.

Under the scheme, a revolving fund ranging from Rs.15 lakh to Rs.60 lakh each has been released to 400 SHGs through direct bank transfers to beneficiaries’ accounts. Further, community investment fund to the tune of Rs.197 lakh has been released to 27 GPLFs, and under it Microfinance Fund has been released as a Micro Investment Plan grant to 69 SHGs for initiating livelihood activities.

Role Model

Shree Kannadathi Stree Shakti SHG, Afzalpur taluk

This women’s self help group has emerged as a stellar example of the success that determined women can achieve with the help of NRLM. Moving from home decor to the socially beneficial activity of making sanitary napkins and diapers, Shree Kannadathi Stree Shakti is a commercial success.

“Money has the power to grant you confidence. No woman should be deprived of it. As women start working, they will become independent”, says Surekha Padaki, president, Shree Kannadathi Stree Shakti SHG.

Sanjeevini/ NRLM/ government/ bank Interventions:

Exposure to market and distribution network through SARAS mela Rs.10 lakh sanctioned under 'Kayak Bandhu'.

Sales at GPLF meetings

CIF funds

: Rs.2 lakh Bank Loan at an interest rate of 12% per annum (2014-15) Infrastructure : From a single store to 3 stores Increase in production : Sanjeevini intervention of Rs.5 crore order for sanitary napkins from Bangladesh Average monthly sales in 2020 : Rs.60,000 from Home Decor Items and Rs 3 lakh-Rs.5 Lakh from sanitary napkins

Shree Kannadathi Sanjeevini Gram Panchayath Level Federation in Mashal, Afzalpur taluk, Kalaburagi district consists of 400 women who make sanitary napkins, diapers and home decorative items. Shree Kannadathi Stree Shakti dates back to 2006 when Surekha Padaki, the president of the group began to make decorative pieces for homes when her children began going to school. Encouraged by the good response, she involved a few neighbours and started manufacturing in bulk with a sum of personal investments. Having heard the Prime Minister’s speech on ‘Mann ki Baat’ about the National Rural Livelihood Mission, the SHG approached the Sanjeevini team and expressed their desire to join them. And she hasn’t looked back, after coming under the fold of NRLM.

Sales have zoomed up from Rs.15,000-Rs.35,000 per month to Rs.2.5 lakh – Rs.3 lakh every month. From a single shop, the enterprise now has three wholesale shops in Afzalpur Taluk (Kalaburagi district), Kalaburagi and Vijayapura, apart from selling at government-sponsored exhibitions every couple of months.

The foray into sanitary napkins started with a personal experience. In 2011, Surekha suffered from a serious itching problem caused by sanitary napkins and spent as much Rs.5,000 for treatment. “It made me realize the importance of good health. I shared my thoughts at a meeting of our self help group and we decided to diversify into making sanitary pads, baby diapers and adult diapers. The SHG had collaborated with the Nagpur-based Bharti Hygiene Care Pvt. Ltd., the makers of ‘Snowy Pads’. The company sources various raw materials such as non-woven fabric, gum, gel paper and releasing paper from Canada, and supplies the same to Surekha’s group, which in turn manufactures and supplies finished pads and diapers to the brand. The partnership seems to be working wonders as the group makes about Rs. 5 lakh every month. It has also sought permission from the government to supply the pads to ration shops across Kalaburagi and Chikkaballapur districts. “Every district should have a sanitary pad manufacturing unit. This will ensure that women's right to hygiene and good health is preserved”, she says. With 15 core members who are also the ownermanagers, the group has 400 active female members and boasts of zero caste-based discrimination in employment. So what are the challenges that the SHG is facing? “None” claims Surekha, “We have Sanjeevini's unstinting support. We have permission to supply to shops around us, loans and subsidies are readily available and we have our share of exposure at the government exhibitions. Whatever we manufacture, gets sold. on the human resource side, we arrange a monthly meeting for all our workers. It is our grievance redressal mechanism. This helps every member in being on the same page with the management. We are quite satisfied.” Apart from financial success, the sense of contentment in providing employment and good health to fellow villagers is a bonus for Surekha. The group plans to diversify to toor dal manufacturing. It plans to set up a manufacturing plant soon in the near future with direct links to farmers.

Aromas of Sustainability

Kodagu, located in a predominantly forest and coffee belt, is also a tourist destination. Sustainable livelihood activities for rural women here include farming-related activities, harvesting honey and selling homemade products.

K. Lakshmi Priya, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive officer, Kodagu, says that the NRLM programme has reached 1,764 SHGs consisting of 17,858 households. 71 Gram Panchayat Level, 316 Ward Level Federations, 291 New SHGs have been formed and trained.

The following activities have been undertaken to support them:

GPLFs have received Community Investment Fund and they have distributed it to SHGs, and more than 876 individuals have benefited from this.

30 GPLFs have received Rs. 6.35 lakh Startup Fund.

4,893 SHGs have been linked to banks and have been disbursed loans of Rs.8,459.50 lakh.

6,020 SHG members are covered under insurance schemes, and 830 members covered under pension schemes.

Training

● Mushroom cultivation by KVK centre, Kodagu

● Poultry, piggery and agriculture related works by the Animal Husbandry department

● Honey collection kit provided by the Horticulture department provided to SHG members

● Tailoring training by CoBSETI, Kudige, and the Textiles department

● Cattle sheds constructed for SHGs through MGNREGA convergence

The training and financial support have helped SHG members take up the following livelihood activities:

¿ Dairy farming, goat rearing, piggery, poultry and fishery

¿ Horticulture & agri related works, including mushroom cultivation, honey harvesting

¿ Bakery, papad & pickle making, sambar powder, coffee powder and homemade wines and juices

¿ Services such as beautician, tailoring, soap oil and phenol

¿ Petty shop and mini supermarkets

¿ Cotton cloth bag units

Rearing Success Stories

Amrutha SHG, Madikeri taluk

Coming together has helped the women of the Amrutha self help group to take up livelihood activities such as poultry, pig and cow farming and candle-making.

“our improved earnings has led to better health and social security. Self-employment has given us self-respect and dignity.” says Sundari, president, Amrutha self help group.

Sanjeevini Interventions:

Benefits provided by MNREGA and various government departments and bank loans of Rs.50,000 per member

EDP training for members

CIF: Rs.75,000

Average monthly sales in 2020: 35 kg candles & 200 eggs

Established in 2016, Amrutha SHG has a team of nine women and is located in the Mekeri village of Madikeri taluk in Kodagu district. The members belong to Scheduled Castes/Tribes, and being the poorest of the rural poor, the self help group helps them achieve their basic goal of survival. The GPLF provided this group with credit from the community investment funds to undertake various economic activities. With savings of Rs.67,600 and a loan of Rs.50,000 from the Kaveri Rural Bank, the members have engaged in self-employment activities such as poultry, pig and cow farming and candle-making. Additionally, the group has received credit facilities from other government departments and training. “Sanjeevini staff have been guiding us throughout. In fact, they were the ones to suggest we go in for candle-making in our spare time for additional income” says Sundari, the president of the self help group. In order to scale up their home-grown poultries, each member applied for a small loan of Rs.50,000. “The manager of our local Grameena Bank came to see our poultry and was very impressed. She suggested we go into piggery as pork is almost like a staple diet in our place. Sanjeevini staff brought officers of the Poultry Federation of Karnataka and the Veterinary officer to our meeting. These officers also helped us get pigs and milking cows through government schemes”, adds Sundari. With a decent market for poultry and pork, the SHG members are able to make their ends meet as well as repay interests on loans in time.

Milking Progress

Bharathiya Mahila SHG, Madikeri taluk

The Bharathiya Mahila self help group, apart from improving the lives of its members, is making a mark by improving the local economy with activities like dairy farming.

“I used to be scared to speak in public, but after attending Sanjeevini meetings, I confidently attend Gram Sabha meetings and speak about our rights and entitlements”, says Lalitha, adding, “ I was overjoyed when my request for a cattle shed under MNREGA was approved.”

Sanjeevini Interventions:

SHG members are active associates of the GPLF (formed under Sanjeevini) and regularly participate in group activities.

EDP training by RSETI.

Timely availability of credit and financial support from MNREGA, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Departments, and KMF.

CIF Bank loans : Rs.75,000 : Rs.50,000 per member

Increase in the production of milk, fishery and piggery observed Average monthly sales in 2020 : Fishery - 20 kg Milk - 150 litres Piggery - 25-30 kg

Bharathiya Mahila self help group in Maragodu Gram Panchayat in Madikeri taluk of Kodagu district consists of 16 members who formed the group in 2013 after overcoming oppression. Their courage and hope has inspired several others to dream for a better future.

The members are engaged in livelihood activities such as in dairy farming, pig and fish farming. “We formed the Bharatiya Mahila SHG as we wanted to earn more money; we wanted better education for our children and the well-being of our families. The self-employment activities have provided a source of additional income. We are trying to empower each other and the other women of the village” says MS Lalitha, president of the group. Apart from the CIF, the SHG members also have a savings bank account with a total deposit of Rs.80,000 and an additional credit of Rs.50,000. The money has allowed them to take up alternative livelihood activities, apart from farming and they have taken up dairy farming, piggery and fisheries. Those who own cattle sell about 5 litres – 6 litres of milk each day. Members have undergone entrepreneurship skills training and various government departments provide constant support through credit facilities. The group’s reputation is good as members are regular in repaying their loans. The group is now thinking of starting a small production unit of dairy products for local markets. “The bank manager has been telling us to take another loan now that we have finished repayment of our earlier loan. We want to make home-made butter, ghee and paneer. The Sanjeevini team has promised to get us training in making dairy products” says Lalitha.

Sowing Support, Reaping Success

Change has been gradual but sure amongst the economically background rural populace in Kolar district; currently 2,014 SHGs and 28,523 households are covered under NRLM.

Says Darshan HV, CEo, Zilla Panchayat, Kolar, “The Sanjeevini programme has been effective in changing mindsets of members of self help groups. They are active in forming Gram Panchayat Level Federations and taking up economic activities.”

The positive results are most visible in the three taluks of Mulbagal, Kolar and Malur; GPLFs have been formed in all 30 Gram Panchayats in Mulbagal taluk, in 18 out of 36 GPs in Kolar and in 10 out of 28 GPs in Malur. Efforts are on to extend them to the rest of the GPs in these taluks and to cover GPs in Srinivaspura and Bangarpet taluks in the current year.

GPLFs cover villages; WLFs and SHGs have been formed involving 28,253 households.

Financial assistance by way of CIF has been released to 28 GPLFs.

Revolving Fund was released to eligible SHGs.

The majority of the members of self help groups have used loans to take up dairying, sheep rearing and agriculture; a few have set up tailoring, petty shops, making food items (sambar and other masala powders, ragi and millet powders).

Fifteen Micro SHG enterprises in the district are involved in regular economic activities, and a few of them were encouraged to participate in SARAS melas and International Trade Fairs at Kolkata, Patna and Mumbai during the current year. Their products were well received by the public.

Plans for 2020-21 include:

¾ Each GP to compulsorily enable one or more Sanjeevini SHGs to start poultry in their house backyard and to rear eggs for supply to anganwadis ¾ The 58 GPLFs are to identify members of SHGs and form a producers group locally to take up any economic activity and to earn their livelihood ¾ 140 trained SHG members under different cadres to be deployed in 58 GPLFs to create awareness amongst SHG members about various schemes of the government and the facilities available to women in rural areas

¾ Inculcate the habit of savings and advantages of micro investment plan in each household

¾ Farm producers groups to take up economic activities such as, tailoring, preparation of food items (sambar and masala powders, ragi and millet malt), making detergent and floor cleaning items

Champion

Recipe for Women's Developement

Sanjeevini Champion: Devi Bai, Malur taluk

All it takes for a change to come about is a motivated person. Devi Bai, a woman in Malenahalli village, is hailed as a model of socio-economic development for creating an award winning self help group.

Thanks to Sanjeevini, talented rural women entrepreneurs like Devi Bai have been introduced to new markets for their products and are enthused about participating in many more fairs.

The Maheshwari Stree Shakti Sangha is a self help group in Rajenahalli village in Malur taluk of Kolar district. Formed in 1996, it currently has 20 members. The members are justifiably proud of having won the Kittur Rani Channamma award for the best working and best maintained SHG in 2014. The award includes a cash component of Rs.50,000. The impetus for the formation of this group came from Devi Bai; after studying till Class 10, she gained the Hindi Ratna qualification and soon began encouraging women in her neighbourhood who were mostly agricultural labourers from Below Poverty Line (BPL) families. With her support, they began to supplement their income by making nutritional products such as popped ragi and millets malt powders. Not only were they able to support their families, they were also able to afford to educate their children.

The group’s activities drew the attention of the state government which provided a Revolving Fund (RF) of Rs.5,000 in 2011. It was also awarded a cash prize of Rs.20,000 for being the best SHG group. Apart from the award money and other funds extended by the government, the group has saved up Rs.5 lakh which it uses to extend internal credit to its members. What’s more, in all its years of existence, it has only once taken a loan of Rs.3 lakh, which was repaid, and for the past 10 years, has been managing the livelihood of members out of the earnings of the SHG. The Sanjeevini project chose Devi Bai to attend the Internationa Trade Fair, the annual SARAS mela in Patna, Bihar, in January 2020. Devi says that it was a wonderful opportunity for rural women entrepreneurs to sell their products at a national trade fair and is now geared up for other events and programmes within the state and outside.

Devi Bai and the Maheshwari Stree Shakti Sangha are examples of economic development, financial development and social prestige that women gain through the National Rural Livelihood Mission, ‘Sanjeevini’, in Karnataka.

Spicy Success

Sanjeevini Champion: Manjula, Malur taluk

The flavours of sambar and other masala powders from Karnataka waft across West Bengal and other states, thanks to an enterprising woman’s self help group led by Manjula of Kolar district.

Manjula and her daughter have become quite the local heroines with local news in Kolar giving them wide coverage for their achievement.

When Manjula was chosen by Zilla Panchayat officials to participate in the India International Mega Trade Fair at Kolkata in December 2019, it was yet another page in the life of this champion from Jodipura village in Malur taluk.

She has been a part of the 16-member Sri Mahalaxmi Self Help Group that was formed in 2002. Its members are very active and participate regularly in their weekly meetings and are prompt in repaying internal loans. The group has so far taken half a dozen bank loans and repaid promptly each time, and the total savings of the group currently is Rs.11 lakh. Manjula has been leading the group and shown members ways of earning an income by taking up economic activities. She has been making a variety of masala and health food powders, such as millet powder, a variety of sambar powders, masala powder and more, for the past 8 years . Word of mouth got her consumers from far and wide who have been buying from her homestore. over the years, this business has grown enough for her to educate her children in engineering and MBA courses. Manjula credits this achievement to the self help group. In recent years, she has become involved in the Sanjeevini programme and learnt about the various benefits that it offers such as membership of the Women SHG Federation and opportunities to participate in SARAS melas. Manjula was initially reluctant when the NRLM staff of Kolar identified her to participate in a SARAS mela to be held out of the state. But she mustered courage thanks to the encouragement of Sanjeevini staff, and participated in the India International Mega Trade Fair at Kolkata in December 2019. Her homemade products such as sambar, masala and millet powders were quick to sell, and several customers revisited the fair to buy her products. Manjula also received orders from retailers and wholesalers in Kolkata, and is now considering a plan to expand the manufacturing of the masalas with an interest free loan offered by the President of KCDCC Bank.

And while Manjula looks forward to a larger market and better financial position for her family, in yet another welcome surprise, her daughter also received wide acclaim at the same trade fair and earned good profits from art that she had created on recycled bottles.

Decorating Progress

Sanjeevini Champion: Vijayamma, Mulbagal taluk

Not so long ago, Vijayamma was just another agricultural labourer in a village trying to add a little more money to the family kitty by making decorative items. With Sanjeevini’s help, she’s now all set to access markets across India.

Vijayamma has become a confident participant in exhibitions & fairs.

Vijayamma is one of 14 women who are members of the Mariyamma Stree Shakti Mahila Sangha, S Bisanahalli village, Agara Gram Panchayat, Mulbagal taluk in Kolar district. Formed in 2017, the SHG has savings of Rs.70,000, and members use this for internal lending, without taking recourse to external loans. The members are agricultural labourers and some of them are involved in making decorative products with locally available materials. Vijayamma uses chicken feathers that are usually discarded as waste and fashions them into door hangings, earrings and similar objects. At a recent SHG Federation meeting, she learnt about the benefits of the SARAS melas and expressed her interest in participating in such fairs. NRLM staff of the Zilla Panchayat selected Vijayamma to participate in the Mahalaxmi Saras 2020 in Mumbai. overcoming the family's hesitation, she travelled to Mumbai by train with her products and successfully participated in the event. She says that her family was delighted with her success and other women in her village have been inspired to take part in similar fairs. As for her, she is grateful for the guidance and support by Sanjeevini staff and is looking forward to attending SARAS melas in different states. Going by her experience in her first mela, she is confident that she can get a bigger market and earn more money for her family.

Toys of Joy

Sanjeevini Champion: Lalitamma Badiger, Kushtagi taluk

When her family was stuck below the poverty line, this villager in Koppala district discovered that her innate talent could come to the rescue.

Thanks to Sanjeevini, Lalitamma’s family has a secure livelihood and a good future.

Lalitamma Badiger belongs to Hanumasagar in Kushtagi taluk of Koppala district. She comes from a family of carpenters, and while her husband Sheshappa was skilled in the craft, he had not taken it up as a profession, and their family of five faced many financial problems. Things changed when Lalitamma joined the Shri Mouneshwara SHG under the Dharma Jyothi Sanjeevini Women’s Federation. The NRLM scheme helped her get an internal loan of Rs.15,000 from the self help group to buy raw materials and she started making wooden toys for kids. When the demand for the toys began to increase, she involved her husband in the business and between them, the couple were able to increase the variety and number of wooden toys. Soon she took a second CIF loan of Rs.20,000 and began to participate in several fairs and exhibitions. Their toys today are much sought after and earn a decent profit for the family. With savings of Rs.300 per day, Lalitamma is happy that she can provide for the wellbeing of the family and her children’s education.

Mother Courage

Sanjeevini Champion: Vijayalakshmi Gowda, Gangavathi taluk

A child bride in Koppala district has overcome the challenges of early widowhood, becoming a successful entrepreneur and an activist for women’s rights.

Vijayalakshmi is hailed as one of the Sanjeevini champions as, apart from helping herself, she shows the way to several other women as an activist. Much to her own surprise, she has grown into a confident popular public speaker, and this is also a result of joining a self help group, she says.

Vijayalakshmi of Gundur village in Gangavathi taluk of Koppala district was married at just six years of age. She became a mother to a daughter at 19, and unfortunately, she lost her husband the very next year. Her family encouraged her to study and she completed the pre-university course, but had to stop studying further due to financial problems. Some time later, encouraged by neighbours, she graduated through the open University.

Soon after, while considering job prospects, Vijayalakshmi saw an opportunity to work from home by selling clothes. Encouraged by the response, she was guided by other members of the Mother Teresa self help group to apply for a loan. This 10-member group was formed in 2010, and Vijayalakshmi had been a member since its inception. The group was sanctioned a bank loan of Rs.6.5 lakh, and in turn, Vijayalakshmi got Rs.65,000 from the group. With this investment, her business began to show good growth. Next, she received training in making artificial garlands and in turn, trained 10 women in the self help group in making them, giving them an opportunity to earn an extra income while helping her grow. Her small scale unit now makes a variety of garlands that range in price from Rs.25 to Rs.15,000. Yalakki hara, Rudrakshi hara and Pearls hara are among the popular varieties of garlands. Vijayalakhsmi’s monthly income is about Rs.25,000 to Rs.30,000 and she is able to educate her daughter and afford a good life for both of them. Vijayalakshmi helps many other women by spreading awareness in the village about the importance of women’s education and empowerment. She has spearheaded the drive to get women to open bank accounts and ensured that one thousand bank accounts were opened under the Jan Dhan scheme.

Spice Girls' Powder Power

Bhavani SHG, Melkote, Pandavapura taluk

Aromatic and colourful spices fuel the growth of the Bhavani self help group in Mandya district, comprising women members who sell handmade puliyogare, sambar and rasam powders.

“We want to expand, and get fame and name outside our home ground,” says Malati, president, Bhavani self help group.

Sanjeevini Interventions from 2016:

CIF: Rs.1,25,000 to 20 members at 12% interest

Cost of production: Rs.15,000 per month

Average monthly sales: Rs.25,000 per month

Average monthly profit: Rs.10,000 to Rs.12,000 per month Bhavani, a self help group in the temple town of Melkote, in Pandavapura taluk of Mandya district, is engaged in making the basic staples of local cuisine: puliyogare, sambar and rasam powders that use spics such as cumin, coriander, mustard, fenugreek, black sesame, pepper, split Bengal gram, black gram seeds, tamarind, salt, oil, asafoetida, dried red chillies, turmeric powder, peanuts and curry leaves.

“Bhavani is run by women, though our husbands help out at times”, says Malati K, the enthusiastic founder. The 40-year old is proud to look back at five years of birthing and nurturing the group. Initially, the group had multiple issues in getting funds, production and finding buyers. But slowly things turned over and Bhavani has expanded since 2015. Many women of the group have also taken up different initiatives, such as setting up a tailoring shop or a canteen. Malati runs a small canteen from her home, apart from running the group. Although established brands have a big market share, Bhavani’s powders have their own customers as the products are lower priced. The handmade powders have rich, earthy flavours that attract discerning buyers. Bhavani makes 300 packets every month, depending on the orders, products and size of the packets. The group takes orders on the phone and makes 300 packets a month; however each member is capable of making 100 packets a month, and are eager to grow. They are now hungry for growth, to get more orders, scale up production and make their brand known. They also take orders for weddings and festivals.

Enabling Winners

The Sanjeevini-NRLM scheme has enrolled women from 1,57,191 households in Mysuru district and, says K Jyothi, CEO, Mysuru Zilla Panchayat, “the aim is to encourage at least one woman in each rural household to be part of a self help group, and help women become self reliant and financially stable.”

To this end, 266 Gram Panchayat Level Federations and 1,398 Ward Level Federations have been formed in the district. 1,087 new self help groups have been formed and 10,983 self help groups have been registered under the Sanjeevini scheme. 2,150 members from these SHGs run small and micro enterprises that are engaged in livelihood activities such as making agarbatti (incense sticks), pottery, handicrafts, organic food products, phenyl; poultry farming, sheep and goat rearing. Members have set up and operate cafes, flour mill units, arecanut dehusking units, grocery shops, beauty salons, florists, photo studios, chemists and offer services such as tailoring. Providing and marketing facilities to the already active SHGs has also been done.

Apart from financial assistance, the groups also have access to ready markets as their products are bought by government offices. Convergence activities have also linked the federations to various government departments. For example, the Agriculture department trained members in production of organic food products. Many SHG members have actively participated in various SARAS fairs organized in different states under the Sanjeevini Scheme. Shri Lakshmi Self Help Group from Nanjangud taluk in the district has won the best National level SHG Award.

CIF grants provide low interest loans to eligible SHG members to enable them to engage in profitable activities, and necessary assistance and guidance are extended. The majority of the loans sought in the district are for agricultural activities and dairying, and the beneficiaries have achieved considerable progress.

The district has given community grants to 196 GPLFs.

46,637 SHG members have obtained loans amounting to Rs.11,042.32 lakh. Bank linkages for Rs.1,752.40 lakh has been achieved.

The following activities have been undertaken to further the cause of social development in this district:

¿ 950 toilets were constructed under the Swachh Bharat Mission for SHG members.

¿ A cleanup campaign was organized by all the SHGs in the district.

¿ Construction of cattle sheds, common work sheds, kitchen gardens have been undertaken.

¿ Insurance facilities have been provided through convergence of funds with different departments.

¿ Gender sensitisation workshops, Poshan Abhiyan and other programmes have been organised at the taluk level.

¿ With most families in the district engaged in farming activities, creation of production groups in agriculture has been planned.

¿ A project has been designed to identify SHGs involved in dairy farming and extend assistance with modern technology.

¿ Information has already been submitted to the State office for setting up 2 Forest Development Centres by identifying women in tribal villages in 2 taluks.

Self help groups in Mysuru Zilla Panchayat are working their way towards social, economic and educational development. Shri Lakshmi Self Help Group from Nanjangud taluk in the district has won the best National level SHG Award.

Holding a Lifeline

Sanjeevini Champion: Gopamma, Nanjangud taluk

Ropes and brooms have proved to be the source of sustenance for the family of Gopamma in Mysuru district.

Sanjeevini’s intervention has been the lifeline that helped revive Gopamma’s life.

Gopamma lives in Hullahalli village and her husband travelled to other villages and towns to sell ropes. When he became seriously ill with asthma, he was forced to stop work. Unable to manage without his earnings, Gopamma decided she had to manage the business, and renting a small shop, began selling ropes. She joined the Sri Chikkadevamma Shri Shantha Shakthi Self Help Society under the Sanjeevini Gram Panchayat Level Federation, and received a CIF loan of Rs.25,000. With this money, she involved her family in making ropes and brooms. The business yields an income of Rs.1,500 to Rs.2,500 each week; she has also begun trading in neighbouring villages that she visits twice a week. She invested Rs.10,000 and earns a weekly income of Rs.3,500 which helps get better treatment for her husband and enables her to repay the debt.

Organic Growth

Sanjeevini Champion: Puttamma, Nanjangud taluk

From vending vegetables to growing an organic farm that employs half a dozen women, this Sanjeevini champion woman in rural Mysuru rose from below the poverty line in five years.

Puttamma has become an independent vegetable grower

Puttamma is from Hullahalli village on the banks of the Kapila River, in Nanjangud taluk of Mysore district. After the premature death of her husband, who was the sole earning member of the family, she struggled to care for herself and her two children. She was employed by a vegetable vendor in his shop. Members of the Shri Sharada Self Help Group encouraged her to join them, and with the group’s support, she decided to become independent and sell vegetables on her own. She got an internal loan of Rs.25,000 and started earning a couple of hundred of rupees each day. The biggest hurdle was that she had to go to other places to buy vegetables as her village did not grow vegetables. To reduce the additional expense and effort, she decided to rent farm land and started to grow vegetables after borrowing Rs.25,000 from a bank to help expand the business. She now participates in farmers’ markets in neighbouring villages and is able to earn Rs.18,000 per month. She aims to pay off debts quickly and is happy that along with her own economic well-being she is able to help other women.

Perseverance Pays

Sanjeevini Champion: Sarojamma Gowda, HD Kote taluk

One of the hallmarks of Sanjeevini champions is their talent to make the most of the opportunities and keep improving their lives, along with that of others. Sarojamma went on to start two enterprises with the help of Sanjeevini.

Sarojamma Gowda took up goat farming and improved her livelihood

Sarojamma Gowda lives in the village of Chikkareyoor in HD Kote taluk and has a family of five whose main source of sustenance was an acre of farmland. However, the lack of adequate irrigation yielded a very small annual income of Rs.35,000 and there were many weeks when they could not work on the farm. Sarojamma joined the Annapoorneshwari Mahila Self Help Group and enquired about options that would help her get a supplementary income. Acting upon the suggestion to open a kirana store, she borrowed Rs.25,000 through the Sanjeevini scheme. once she had the shop going, she decided to start goat farming. Initially, she faced difficulties in both businesses but was able to overcome them with the right training. She now sells the goats directly to vendors, without middlemen, and is able to increase her monthly income and profits. While the standard of living of the family has improved, their social status has also bettered, and Sarojamma has become a mentor to other women in the village.

Bringing Nature to People

Bharatmata Sanjeevini SHG, Hunsur taluk

Members of the Hakki Pikki tribe in Mysuru district have seen a positive impact on their livelihood when they formed a self help group to sell their handmade traditional hair oils and creams.

“The benefits of Ayurveda must reach the masses as an alternative to chemical-laced cosmetics. I want to see our products touch the lives of every individual”, says Bindiya Amber, head of the Bharatmata Sanjeevini self help group.

Sanjeevini Interventions:

Training in financial management & entrepreneurship Workshop on brand building, packaging & marketing

Participation in government-sponsored exhibitions across the country

Trained in digital payments & social media marketing. Registered on online marketing platforms including GEM

: Rs.1.25 lakh loan at 12% interest. Infrastructure : Helped start a small Ayurvedic oil making plant Increase in production : 200 litres Average monthly sales in 2020 : Rs.1.5 lakh

For generations, members of the semi-nomadic Hakki Pikki (Vaghri) tribe in Mysuru district of Karnataka, have relied on their intimate knowledge of the forest to make medicines, oils and creams. While the women of the tribe usually polish and sell beads or flower vases, a couple of decades back, a member of the tribe, Bindiya Amber and her family hailing from First Pakshirajapura in Hunsur taluk, started selling their home-made oils door-to-door as a means of financial sustenance. They made quite an impact with their long, jet-black hair which lent credence to the claim that regular use of the hair massage oil would prevent hair fall and restore hair. They were soon able to build a good clientele in and around Mysuru. In 2016, Sanjeevini officials in Mysuru intervened and encouraged Bindiya and other women from her tribe to form a self help group. Buoyed by the assurance of support and exposure to a bigger market, and dreaming of a better life for their children, began the Bharatmata Sanjeevini Self Help Group. The team comprises 12 women from the neighbourhood and members of Bindiya’s family, who carefully handpick ingredients from the forests to make medicated oils, massage oils and hair oils targeted for specific uses, apart from ornamental copper rings and copper bracelets. The hair oil is made from dry masalas (jadi or roots) such as lavancha, ber, balmun, kala jeera, methi powder, badam, amla powder, bhringraj, shikakai, tea leaves, nilambari and roots of kasturi, and wet masalas (kachcha) include amla, aloe vera, dasvara, rose petals, neem leaves, brahmi, kaiunni, kodaialla, castor beans, brighraj, guava leaves, mint leaves, basil leaves, lime, onion, coconut and sweet neem leaves. The group’s personalised sales technique is unique - when the women of Bharatmata Sanjeevini shake loose their long, dark tresses, shoppers are fascinated and quick to buy the oil. The group can be contacted on WhatsApp number 6353429648, its Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pg/Bharatmataherbal/ about/?ref=page_internal, and its website http:// bharathmataayurvedic.com/ for door delivery of orders. It accepts digital payments and cash on delivery. With hopes of scaling up production in factories and selling their products through big companies, the group wants to see Bharatmata Sanjeevini becoming a household name.

A Staple Success

Lakshmi Chapati Manufacturing Unit, Nanjangud taluk

Feeding people simple, good food at work has led to an entire village being involved in a small scale food enterprise. The Lakshmi Chapati Manufacturing Unit in Mysuru district has become a legend of sorts in the annals of self help groups in Karnataka.

This unit serves as a model of a group alternative livelihood endeavour. The business had expanded multi-fold since the earlier days, and just as Sanjeevini inspires their efforts and hard work, the women inspire Sanjeevini to work harder for them.

Sanjeevini Interventions:

The success of the unit has led to the establishment of similar units, the members of which were provided training at RSETI, Mysuru.

Facilitated by Sanjeevini, the unit members have trained members of other similar units in chapati-making using machinery.

The marketing team of Sanjeevini is actively trying to expand the group’s business horizon and is approaching a potential list of clientele in Mysuru.

A proposal has been envisaged by Sanjeevini to construct common work sheds to help the group members with the required infrastructure.

: Rs.6 lakh Infrastructure : Land by Gram Panchayat and building by TVS Motor Company Increase in production : From 500 chapatis a day, progressive increase to 6,000 a day Average monthly sales in 2020 : An average of 1,68,000 chapatis & a turnover of Rs.3.25 lakh

The year 2001 was the beginning of the self help group movement in the village of Kembal of Rampur Gram Panchayat of Nanjangud taluk, and eight SHGs came into being. In 2003, with the intervention of Sanjeevini, the Lakshmi Chapati Manufacturing Unit was established in partnership between the Srinivasan Trust and the 16 members of the 8 self help groups. The initial investment was Rs.1.6 lakh; and while each SHG contributed Rs.10,000, the Trust contributed Rs.80,000. The members were trained in handling money and also in book keeping by Sanjeevini and the Gram Panchayat gave a small piece of land to the group on lease. During the early days, the capacity of the unit was 500 chapatis per day. With a gradual increase in capacity, it produces 6,000 chapatis a day that are reasonably priced at Rs.1.95, and boasts of a clientele that ranges from TVS Motor Company to super markets. The members devote about 4 to 5 hours in the early mornings to making chapatis and earn a daily income of Rs.350. Within a span of a decade, the Lakshmi Chapati Manufacturing Unit has inspired other women to start similar manufacturing facilities. Sanjeevini has been approached by various groups to aid in the establishment of chikki and Mysore pak production units. The success of the unit boosted the confidence of several other women, and 30 women approached Sanjeevini officials with a request to help them start a similar facility. The women were enrolled in the Entrepreneurship Development Program at RSETI, Mysuru, and a training programme was set up with Lakshmi Chapati Unit. With the aim of increasing the production capacity, the group has identified a place for an additional workshed that it plans to build with support from Sanjeevini. “We are looking forward to putting up an additional unit with the solar powered chapathi machine. Sanjeevini showed us the video, and it’s amazing to see that machines can make chapatis”, says Mahadevamma with a laugh. Sanjeevini has planned to support the group with a new Solar Chapati Machine under a pilot programme planned in the 2020-21 Action Plan with the aid of SELCo.

Diversifying Livelihood Options

While farming is the main source of livelihood in Raichur district, self help groups are productively engaged in other livelihood options such as animal husbandry, crafts such as tailoring and embroidery, and handicrafts such as terracotta and pearl jewellery.

Laxmi Kanth Reddy, CEo, Raichur Zilla Panchayat, says, “We have established 4800 SHGs that cover 30,485 households and have established 348 WLFS and 81 GPLFs under the Sanjeevini NRLM programme”.

Aadhar seeding of 30,485 SHG members

Revolving Fund to 450 SHGs

CIF to 21 GPLFs

Identified and trained - 80 MCRPs, 43 BRPs, 43 MBKs & 65 LCRPs

SHGs have received support at various levels:

2,654 SHGs have received orientation in Panchasutra and book keeping.

100 SHG members were supported with training on income generation activities at CFTRI, Mysuru, and another 100 at RSETI, Raichur.

2,654 SHGs are linked to banks.

There are 10 Sanjeevini SHG micro-enterprises in Raichur which have been supported through:

Training in:

¾ Food processing, manufacturing of fruits and vegetable jams, millets processing and value added products, manufacturing spices

¾ Poultry, training in sheep rearing, animal husbandry and dairy activities.

¾ Tailoring and embroidery

Bank Linkages

¾ Bank linkages and loans were facilitated

Marketing:

¾ Supported their participation in Patna International Mega Trade fair, Kolkata International

Mega Trade fair, Bengaluru SARAS Mela and Gadag SARAS Mela.

¾ Training on GEM

Courage of Conviction

Sridevi Sri Shakti SHG, Sindhanur taluk

Taking a bold step in pushing for the creation of a self help group, the women of Ele Koodlagi village have displayed commendable determination throughout their journey, from initial failure to success. With Sanjeevini’s help, they have grown from strength to strength.

The Members of this SHG are dedicated to their work.

Sanjeevini Interventions:

Members underwent 3-day entrepreneurship training programme.

The Sanjeevini team conducted a market survey to assess the reason for poor demand.

Post-assessment, group members were given a 5-day training in the right methods of production.

Additional CIF loans are expected after the SHG becomes a member of Sanjeevini Mahasathi GPLF.

Loan of Rs.3 lakh from the Pragati Krishna Rural Bank of Harapura village Increase in production: From 50-100 chapatis to 600-800 chapatis Average monthly sales in 2020: Rs.70,000 – Rs.80,000

Sridevi Sri Shakti Self Help Group in Ele Koodlagi village in Sindhanur taluk of Raichur district consists of 15 members who make paper plates and chapatis. Inspired by an Anganwadi teacher who formed a women's group in a neighbouring village, these women approached the managers of the Pragathi Krishna Rural Bank in Harapura village, and with their help, the Sridevi SHG was formed in 2005.

Soon their monthly savings doubled but they wanted to achieve more and decided to make paper plates. With the required training and funds, the members bought a paper plate manufacturing machine. However, the paper plates didn’t do well in the market and the group temporarily halted production. At this juncture, the Sanjeevini non-farm team conducted a market survey and assessed that the lack of quality was the major deterrent to consumer demand. With Sanjeevini’s intervention, a local paper plate manufacturing unit trained the SHG members in the right way using the available equipment. one of the members, Laxmi, was given training and appointed as the Master BookKeeper. Meanwhile, the SHG had also begun to make chapatis and demand for these grew at a steady pace. Currently, it supplies chapatis to wedding caterers in nearby villages. The group now has a daily turnover of Rs.2,500 - Rs.3,000 from the combined manufacture of chapatis and paper plates. With the steady flow of revenue, the personal financial conditions of the women are also improving. Sanjeevini’s State Programme Manager Bellegowda and District Manager Vijay Kumar have praised the SHG for its progress. Says Bellegowda, “I have monitored the activities of the Sridevi Sri Shakti Group. These women work very systematically and their business is flourishing. Sanjeevini provides them with a good market, and the members live a comfortable life due to a steady income flow.” Impressed by their diligence, former Sanjeevini Mission Director Dr. BR Mamatha had directed the Zilla Panchayat to provide a solar roti maker to the self help group.

A Creative Enterprise

Chiguru SHG, Manvi taluk

Demonstrating that they have truly learnt the meaning of ‘self help’, the women of Chiguru Swasahaya Gumpu in Raichur district reinvented their business model and are happy to sell their terracotta jewellery across India.

Former Sanjeevini Mission Director Dr. BR Mamatha (centre) with SHG members

Sanjeevini Interventions:

“our terracotta jewellery now has a good market thanks to Sanjeevini. Young women especially like these beautiful, yet inexpensive jewellery”, say the members of Chiguru.

Members were trained in maintaining product quality

Provided a platform to participate in state-wide exhibitions

SHG was nominated to participate in the Patna International Trade Fair

Space to sell their products at a monthly market at a resort in Kamalapura village

Infrastructure : A common work shed has been sanctioned under the 202021 Annual Action Plan of Sanjeevini NRLM in convergence with NREGA. Average monthly sales in 2020 : Rs.50,000 – Rs.60,000

Raichur is a developing state and hence, receives a lot of attention from development workers. Back in 2000, women from the socially and economically disadvantaged sections in Pothnal village were mobilised to form the Jagrutha Women’s organisation. The Chiguru Self Help Group was an offshoot, with 10 women from the SC/ST communities. They were initially encouraged to start monthly savings, and later underwent training for five months in the craft of making terracotta jewellery. Jagrutha organisation was instrumental in selling the products. However, the story took an unexpected turn as the organisation team left the village and went back to their home state. But the spirit of the SHG women was unhindered. They participated in various exhibitions at Dastkar (New Delhi), Palace Ground (Bengaluru), Chitrakala Parishad (Mand Hyderabad). However, attending exhibitions was an expensive affair and the group found it difficult to participate, but by not participating their sales were adversely affected. Sanjeevini intervened, and under the officials’ guidance, the members were assisted in maintaining the quality of their products and they were also provided with a platform to participate in state-wide exhibitions. The SHG was also chosen to represent the state in Patna International Trade Fair organised in Bihar. Every member of the SHG now saves about Rs.2,000 – Rs.3,000 each month. The group has earned words of praise from the former Sanjeevini Mission Director, Dr. BR Mamatha who said, “The terracotta jewellery that the women of the group are producing is really good. Young women of today are very fond of this kind of jewellery. The products are being provided a very good platform through the Sanjeevini scheme.” The Zilla Panchayat Project Director, Sharan Basavaraj, District Industries Center, Joint Director, Mohammed Irpan, Deputy Director, Basavaraj, District Skill Mission officer, Rajesh Bhavagi and others have also applauded the achievements of the Chiguru self help group. A resident of Vibuthikere village in Ramanagara taluk of Ramanagara district, Kalavathi belongs to a middle class family and is a mother of a young girl. A trained potter, she used to make clay toys against orders from a local handicraft shop, and would earn about Rs.5,000 each month. When the shop shut down, Kalavathi lost a steady income. She became a member of the Shri Suhasini Stree Shakti Self Help Group under the Shri Vibhutikere Sanjeevini GPLF. Guided by the group, she took the entrepreneurial plunge in 2016, and with a bank loan of Rs.50,000 under the self-employment scheme she began manufacturing clay products, cotton bags and wallets. The business was an immediate success, making profits within a couple of months, and enthused her to start another venture. With the help of her husband and her workers, she set up a poultry rearing business. Her income further increased steadily with the establishment of Common Service Centers. The two businesses generate income of Rs.1.5 lakh per annum, and through her ventures, Kalavathi is able to provide employment opportunities to other members of her SHG and many other women in her village. Dr BR Mamatha, former Mission Director, Sanjeevini, says “I am a great admirer of Kalavathi due to the fact that she faced social and economic challenges which is like a double-edged sword towards her journey of economic independence. Many women in the district should make use of the initiatives under the NRLM scheme”. For her remarkable entrepreneurial journey, Kalavathi was honored by Ikram, CEo of Ramanagara District Zilla Panchayat.

From Clay to Cash

Sanjeevini Champion: Kalavathi, Ramanagara taluk

Self-employment has made Kalavathi a serial entrepreneur and has helped her open doors to opportunities for several other women in rural Ramanagara.

“Mother Earth has shown me a way towards livelihood, with the support of Sanjeevini. I am going to work harder and in the coming days will expand my business further”, says Kalavathi.

Model of Self Reliance

Sanjeevini Champion: S Asha, Channapatna taluk

A struggling young woman has become self-employed after Sanjeevini helped her start a poultry rearing business. In the process, she has become a role model for other women in the village.

Asha’s perseverance has made her a successful rural entrepreneur and has inspired many women to avail themselves of micro financing and subsidies through the Sanjeevini GPLF along with convergence with Women & Child Development department programmes.

S Asha hails form a middle class family in Tagachagere village and is a member of the Sri Mahadeshwari Self Help Group of Tagachagere Sanjeevini Gram Panchayat Level Federation in Channapatna taluk of Ramanagara district. Nine years ago, a graduate degree in hand, Asha had hoped to get a job in the police force but failed to land a job despite clearing the written and physical tests. She was crestfallen and struggled to find work, and her family members also found it very hard to eke out a livelihood through farming. A neighbour invited her to attend a Sanjeevini GPLF meeting and it seemed to Asha that she could find a way out of her tough times. Soon enough, the Taluk Mission Management Unit assessed her situation and the farm team suggested that she could start a small poultry rearing unit on her arid agricultural land, as there was a good market for poultry in nearby Bengaluru. She had in the meanwhile joined the Sri Mahadeshwari SHG.

Asha was able to finance her poultry rearing unit in December 2018 by putting together various funds: she had saved Rs.3 lakh and received CIF of Rs.75,000 through the SHG from the GPLF. She also got a subsidy based bank loan of Rs.3 lakh under the Udyogini scheme, with assistance from the financial inclusion team.

Asha has seen a significant improvement in her family’s earnings; her annual net income stands at Rs.2 lakh. After seeing the transformation in her life, Asha urged the TMMU staff to construct a Common Workshed to help promote self help groups and the businesses of their members.

She attributes her success to the valuable and timely guidance received from the TMMU staff, the encouragement and assistance from former Mission Director Dr.BR Mamatha whose personal attention and frequent field visits have helped address the rural masses’ grievances and provide timely financial assistance through the local banking sector, and the follow up by Ikram, Ramanagara ZP CEo.

Shaping a Brighter Future

Suhasini SHG, Ramanagara taluk

Using their skills in two traditional handicrafts, Kalamkari, the art of handprinting on textile, and terracotta, the clay-based ceramic craft, members of this self help group in Ramanagara district have taken charge of their well-being.

Suhasini SHG: Handicrafts provide livelihood & status to members of this self help group.

Sanjeevini Interventions:

Rs.50,000 disbursed under Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana Scheme Rs.10,000 Revolving Fund disbursed

Received exposure at all state level and district level SARAS melas Received online and offline marketing, branding and packaging support for products

Plans to start a medium-scale business at district level under the brand name of Sanjeevini.

Infrastructure : The group members have created an outhouse to work together. Increase in production : Doubled in production from 1,000 pieces in 2016 to 2,000 pieces in 2020. Average Monthly Income : Rs.20,000

Suhasini Self Help Group in Chamanahalli village, Ramanagara taluk, Ramanagara district consists of 19 members who make terracotta handicraft items and Kalamkari bags. It was back in 2006 that the group was formed by the women who wanted to support their families by doing something on their own. The group began manufacturing terracotta handicraft items and Kalamkari bags and purses with raw materials are mostly sourced from the local markets of Ramanagara. The group makes about 100 pieces each month, and its members manage to earn an average of Rs.16,000–Rs.17,000 a month. The handicrafts are a hit amongst tourists and apart from this, the group participates in government-sponsored exhibitions. The group wants to overcome the limitations and increase sales. “our reach has to expand and we need more points of sale. We are aiming to set up our own shop”, says Anita, president of the group.

New Lease of Life

Sanjeevini Champion: Bindu, Shivamogga taluk

From being a landless labourer, this Sanjeevini champion has become a rural entrepreneur in Shivamogga district. With her confidence boosted, she now mobilises women in nearby villages to take the entrepreneurial plunge through Sanjeevini.

Sanjeevini has helped Bindu become seif sufficient.

Bindu, hailing from B. Beeranahalli village of Shivamogga taluk, was a landless labourer with a family of four. Her monthly income of Rs.10,000 was insufficient to feed the family and send the children to school. Bindu was desperately seeking a solution when she was invited to join the Jyothi SHG. Here, she was introduced to the benefits available to SHG members and she learnt that a woman could create an alternative livelihood for herself and her family. The Cluster Supervisor put forth her case to the non-farm team of Sanjeevini and she was advised to take up areca nut plate manufacturing; as areca nuts are a locally grown resource, manufacturing biodegradable plates could be started on a small scale. After deliberating with fellow SHG members, Bindu decided to establish a small manufacturing unit.

Impact of Intervention

Through the NRLM scheme the SHG was provided with Rs.1.25 lakh as CIF and Bindu got a loan of Rs.40,000 to start the business, and she also availed herself of a loan of Rs.30,000 from a bank. Today Bindu sells a plate for Rs.2 to Rs.3, and the daily revenue ranges from Rs.800 - Rs.1,000, a significant increase from the Rs.300 she earned per day as a labourer. The alternative livelihood helped send her children back to school; her monthly income increased to Rs.25,000. Her leadership skills were identified and she has also become an ambassador for Sanjeevini in spreading the word about the benefits of EDP training.

The Right Mix

Sanjeevini Champion: Padmalatha Jain, Sagar taluk

With the right training and mentoring, the innate entrepreneurial zeal of this Sanjeevini champion in Sharavathi village of Shivamogga district was able to triumph over hurdles.

Padamalatha says, “I am very proud of my entrepreneurial journey, and Sanjeevini has helped me step by step. I feel privileged to have participated at the Mumbai SARAS Fair”.

Padmalatha Jain in Sharavathi village in Tumari gram panchayat of Sagar taluk in Shivamogga district is the president of the 13-member Samruddhi Shaksharatha SHG.

Having studied up to Class 9, even as a student, Padmalatha was enthusiastic about setting up her own venture and discussed potential business ideas with her neighbours. In 2017, she decided to set up a small business venture to make ready mix batter for dosa, idli and ragi malt, apart from some Malnad delicacies. However, the business was unable to break even, and within a year, it started making losses. Friends advised her to take the help of the Sanjeevini team and as a member of the Samruddhi Saksharatha SHG, she approached the Cluster Supervisor for help. The non-farm and the marketing teams studied her business, conducting a market survey and examined the product design. They advised Padmalatha that the packaging was not up to the mark and further, the market she wanted to capture was quite saturated with stiff competition from well known brands. In order to succeed, she had to get the right pricing. She was advised to take up an Entrepreneurship Development Programme organised by RSETI, Shivamogga, and over a period of 3 months, her packaging and price range were revamped. The results were rewarding: from negative growth for over a year, Padmalatha started to break even after 6 months of revamping the business.

The turning point, when her fortunes changed for the good, came when she was selected by Sanjeevini to participate at the Mumbai SARAS Fair 2018-19. Her products were a hit among her customers and till date she sends her products to Mumbai. Her monthly income is now Rs.26,000 and she hopes to promote her products on a larger scale. She plans to extend her support to other women in the village by involving them in the business too.

A Precious Mission

Shivajyothi Swasahaya Sangha, Shivamogga taluk

The story of Prabhavathi and Anjuna, who belong to the Hakki Pikki tribe, is inspirational. From having to beg for food they have become self sustaining entrepreneurs; they own a shop and a house, and have mentored four self help groups and have trained 40 members in the art of jewellery-making.

Their key to happiness lies in Jansewa - learn and teach others. A humble follower of the Sanatan dharma, Prabhavathi says “We don’t inspire to become millionaires. Whenever we sell our products, we request our customers to take care of the environment, eat satvik food and contribute towards making our great country better,” says Prabhavathi.

Sanjeevini Interventions

Training in jewellery-making at RSETI Market-linkages through International Trade Fairs and SARAS in Mumbai

Registration on GEM, stall at Metro-santhe

CIF : Rs.1.25 lakh

Bank loan

: Rs.1.25 lakh Infrastructure : Training centre to train 40 SHG women Average monthly sales : Rs.60,000 - Rs.70,000

Shivajyothi Swasahaya Sangha in Hosudi post of Shivamogga district makes jewellery out of pearls and precious stones, and it's story is one of rags-to-riches. Utter poverty motivated Prabhavathi, a woman from the Hakki Pikki tribe to become an entrepreneur, “I used to beg in the village, while my husband used to hunt and gather food from the deep forests. We survived on a single piece of cloth for months. We wondered, is this the kind of life we are destined to live?”

When Prabhavathi came to the village as a new bride, she found it very backward; she had no work to do and poverty pushed her to odd jobs in nearby villages. That's when she joined other women to form a self help group, as part of the Stree Sakthi Sanghas that came up in 2006. She became the head of the 10-member all-woman team who were mostly from the same tribe. For sometime the group was content conducting meetings and making savings as per the rules of the group but she wanted to see more results. Chance favours the prepared mind. In 2013, Anjuna, who listened to the radio to keep abreast of national affairs, heard the Prime Minister encouraging people to seek the benefit of the National Rural Livelihood Mission through self help groups. Motivated to bring about a change in their lives, Anjuna reached out to the taluk panchayat for assistance to begin making jewellery. The Sanjeevini team named the SHG as the Shivajyothi Swasahaya Sangha and helped the members get trained at RSETI. Prabhavati and Anjuna excel in contemporary designs which they learnt by observing. “Whenever there were exhibitions around, we used to have a thorough look at every stall. We used to imagine how we could create products that surpass the ones in the market.” After getting a subsidy and a bank loan, she started manufacturing and selling their products doorto-door.

This group sources pearls and corals directly from harvesters in Andhra Pradesh, precious stones from Kacheguda, Mangaluru and Mysuru, and specialty stones like emeralds from Jaipur. The team now boasts of monthly average sales of around Rs.60,000 - Rs.70,000. They travel across the country with their jewellery and keep an eye out for exhibitions organised by the Zilla Panchayat, Khadi Association, NABARD and the government. “We have ready inventory and banks are willing to give us loans, but we don’t have enough sales touch points. We would benefit if there were more government sponsored exhibitions, as stalls at private exhibitions are too expensive.” They now look forward to the Metro-Santhe stall in Bengaluru that Sanjeevini will be alloting to them and other Sanjeevini SHGs in the state on rotation basis. “The Sanjeevini team has helped us register and put our products on GEM and we are looking forward to government orders. They are asking us to make mementos, pen holders, ornamental paper knives etc” says Anjuna.

Graduating to Glory

Sanjeevini Champion: Shaileshree, CN Halli taluk

The path to success can sometimes take circuitous routes, and the story of this Sanjeevini champion has many interesting and successful detours.

Sanjeevini’s support and hand holding have helped Shaileshree’s entrepreneurial journey and improved her household’s income.

A B.Sc graduate, Shaileshree of Chikkanayakanahalli in Tumakuru district had joined the Sri Anjaneya Mahila Swasahaya Sangha in 1999. Here, she learnt of the various programmes by which she could supplement her family’s income. Initially, she took a loan from SHG to study the B.Ed. course after which she joined a private school as a teacher and also began giving tuitions. By 2006 she had paid off her loan. In the meantime, her husband’s oil mill made little profit as the products were sold through a middleman. Shaileshree tried doing the marketing herself but it wasn’t very successful. She then joined the NRLM-Sanjeevini programme in 2015, and through the Nisarga GPLF, took a loan of Rs.50,000 to start a goat farm. The marketing techniques that she learnt at the entrepreneurship programme facilitated by Sanjeevini, helped her make profits. After paying back the loan within a year, she applied for another loan to start a poultry business and was sanctioned Rs.5 lakh, of which she has received the first tranche of Rs.2 lakh. Simultaneously, she was advised by senior Sanjeevini staff Shivshankar and Ashok to improve her family business of oil extraction, and encouraged by them, she attended workshops and exhibitions. She now concentrates on oil extraction of coconut, castor and groundnut, and having got FSSAI approval with the help of the NRLM team, she is able to brand her oils. Her main markets are at Tumakuru and Bengaluru. After attending an exhibition in Ahmedabad, she now also supplies to customers there. Her growing skills in marketing are helping expand the business. She's realised the need to improve communication and is working on her English language skills. She has also improved her ability to identify good and pure oils. The recent GEM workshop has trained her in ecommerce and helped her realise that selling online is not a daunting prospect. She hopes to be able to register and sell her products in larger markets soon.

A Healthier Future

Shree Anjaneya SHG, Chikkanayakanahalli taluk

Benefiting from the exposure to a wider market that Sanjeevini has given them, this self help group in Tumakuru district is keen to market its organic oils across the state.

“We want to take the goodness of organic oil to every family in the state”, says Malligamma, president of the Shree Anjaneya SHG.

Sanjeevini Interventions:

CIF: Rs.75,000

Exposure to a larger market through the exhibition held at Gandhi Bhavan, Bengaluru, International Trade Fair Ahmedabad and other states SARAS

Increased visibility and demand for products across several states

Significant improvement in marketing and communication skills of the members, with increased exposure to consumers one of the earliest self help groups in Karnataka, the Shree Anjaneya SHG was established in 1999. It manufactures castor oil, groundnut oil and coconut oil and the USP is that the oils are organic and are extracted by hand.

The SHG has 18 women members and is located in Singapura town of Chikkanayakanahalli taluk. Motivated by the desire to provide a better life to their families and their children, these women initiated the group activity with required support from the NRLM officials. “We started from scratch and now the business has spread across the taluk. We do not use mechanical processing, and compared to the chemical-laden products available in the market, our products offer nourishment to the body, the natural and organic way. our achievement is our great rapport with our customers and of course, the increase in our income”, says Malligamma, the president of the group. The oils are made up of castor beans, coconut and ground nuts that are sourced from the markets of Chikkanayakanahalli. The monthly production capacity of the group is 500 litres of castor oil, 250 litres of groundnut oil and 400 litres of coconut oil. With an exclusive manufacturing unit and a congenial working environment, the group has the required human resources and a good transportation network. Sanjeevini staff introduced the group to the SARAS fairs held in various states, across India, and participating in these exhibitions have widened the market base, visibility and demand for the products. The SHG is working to improve the oil filtration procedures and the packaging quality of the products.

Backyard Treasures

Growing fragrant jasmine and nutritious mushrooms, making cloth and paper bags, and maintaining small poultry farms are livelihood activities of self help groups in Udupi Zilla Panchayat.

Apart from these, the coastal district has ample scope for fish cultivation and processing, coir production and dairy products as the district produces plenty of milk, and overall, there is a huge scope for agri-allied activities. Says Preethi Gehlot, CEo, Udupi Zilla Panchayat, “We have over 200 members involved in various activities. We have motivated them to focus on marketing their products to get better income. We organized a Beach Utsav at the Malpe Beach, where we provided stalls to exhibit and sell products produced by different Sanjeevini SHG groups. There was a good response from the self help groups as well as from people.

1,693 NRLM SHGs and 21,764 households

70 GPLFs

200 members of Sanjeevini SHG micro-enterprises

After the introduction of the Sanjeevini schemes in the district, small and marginal farmers as well as agricultural labourers have started rearing a couple of cows, and this has led to increased milk production in the district. People have also started making the most of their backyards by rearing poultry and growing jasmine. All these activities have increased their income.

Tailormade Success

Sanjeevini Champion: Vanitha S. Moily, Karkala taluk

Having set up a tailoring shop to make clothes to order, and to train other women, this Sanjeevini champion in Udupi district shows what’s possible with the right attitude and training.

Vanitha Moily has been able to improve her social standing in the village.

Vanitha is a resident of Nitte village in Karkala taluk of Udupi district. Hailing from a poor family, she had to stop her education after Class X. Like many people in the district, she was engaged in preparing beedis for her livelihood and earned a meagre amount of Rs.1,500 per month. Looking for a better alternative, she joined a self help group, the Deepa Sanjeevini okkoota.

She was encouraged to enrol in a tailoring training course at the Bharatiya Vikas Trust Institute and in an embroidery training course by the Synd RSETI in Manipal. She also learnt business skills, communication, marketing, entrepreneurship and social skills that helped her develop self confidence. After these training sessions, she rented space in the Nitte Gram Panchayat building and set up her own shop, ‘Ekanatheshwari Ladies’ Tailor'. Through her SHG, she was given a CIF loan of Rs.75,000 to improve her business. She purchased five sewing machines and apart from stitching clothes to order, she also offers training in tailoring to women. She earns over Rs.10,000 each month. Going beyond economic prosperity, she has been able to secure a good social standing in society and is actively involved in all the cultural activities taking place in the Gram Panchayat.

Mission 55 - Innovative Initiative

With the blue waters of the Arabian sea on one side, and the lush greenery of the Western Ghats on the other, Uttara Kannada is a centre of attention in Karnataka. Now, a silent revolution that has boosted opportunities for self employment and self reliance of women in the district has drawn much praise.

With ‘Mission 55’, Uttara Kannada district has created a unique and model institution to help increase the earning potential of SHG members in the district under the broad purpose of the Sanjeevini mission. M. Roshan, CEo, Uttara Kannada, Zilla Parishad, says, “We hold the unique distinction of being the first in Karnataka state to set up five self help groups in each taluk, and we have 55 model SHGs in this district.” The purpose of this programme is to provide appropriate guidance and assistance to the women in the group to opt for livelihood activities of their choice and help them maximise earnings. The objective of Mission 55 is for these 55 SHGs to serve as replicable models for the 9,200 SHGs that are affiliated to Gram Panchayat Level Federations in the district.

Mission 55

55 taluks

5 SHGs in each taluk

Consultative process

The success of the project stems from the consultative process that saw the Sanjeevini staff reach out to select associations and obtain information about the activities they would like to take up as self help groups. This was followed by further consultations with interested association members and the Joint Directors of the District Industrial Training Center in each taluk. This helped choose livelihood activities, with emphasis on making environmentally friendly products, and highlighted the technical assistance that was needed. once the consultation was completed in all the taluks, a plan was drawn up to finalise the activities that the associations intended to undertake and start production within the stipulated time frame.

Funds have come from multiple sources for Mission 55; wherever possible, Community Investment Funds were disbursed. In instances where the funds were not available, bank loans were speedily facilitated through the intervention of District Lead Banks.

The women have used funds and training provided under the Sanjeevini scheme to start several productive activities such as areca nut and spice processing plants, manufacturing paper bags, agarbatties, phenyl and soap oil, making eco friendly plates and cups from areca leaves, bamboo baskets and decorative door hangings, dressmaking, pickles, rotis, kashaya (traditional health brew), roasting nuts, earthenware etc.

Happiness can be seen on the faces of the self employed women who are socially and economically self sufficient. Sanjeevini has equipped these SHG members with knowledge about banking and markets, and the positive results are evident: they are marketing their products well, and able to repay loans and make profits.

“Mission 55 is one of the most innovative amongst the livelihood programmes that are a source of hope for economically disadvantaged women in the unorganised sector. We had decided to implement a similar scheme statewide”, says Dr. BR Mamatha, former Director, Karnataka State Livelihood Mission.

Mission 55 has emerged as a catalyst for change, enabling poverty alleviation programmes to increase the income of the families of rural women, equipping them with information about production, finance, marketing and more.

Spice Route to Success

Sanjeevini Champion: Sujata Hegde, Yellapur taluk

The road to entrepreneurial success for this woman in a village in Uttara Kannada district began with just an acre of land, and thanks to Sanjeevini, she realised the value of utilising it to the maximum.

Sujata Narayan Hegde's business is thrving.

Sujata Narayan Hegde’s family struggled to eke out a livelihood in Hitalli village; her husband’s earnings as an agricultural labourer were not enough to meet the expenses of the home and educate the children. When she joined the Shakti Raitha SHG under the Nisarga Sanjivini WLF, she realised that the acre of land that her family owned could be better utilised. She took a CIF loan of Rs.60,000 and began growing spices such as nutmeg. Having purchased a packing machine, she also started making herbal tea and traditional health drink powder (kashaya) which she sells at the Yellapur market. Her monthly income increased to Rs.22,600 and with her profits, she has purchased the agricultural tools for her husband that have helped him work independently. She has health insurance and saves Rs.3,500 each month. She has started repaying the loan and now plans to expand her business.

Knots that Benefit

Sanjeevini Champion: Bibi Fathima, Mundgod taluk

A talent for making decorative macramé products has lifted Bibi Fathima’s family from poverty to stability, in Uttara Kannada district.

Bibi Fathima is an expert in macramé, a form of textile craft that is produced by using the technique of knotting.

Bibi Fathima A. Budnanavar lives in Hungund village in Mundgod taluk. Her husband’s earnings as a daily wager were not enough to meet the needs of their family of six. She joined the Bismilla Mahila Sanjeevini SHG, under the Mallige Sanjeevini WLF. She soon realised that her natural talent for craft could scale up to be a livelihood activity. With a loan from the self help group, she procured materials and began making products like swings, hammocks, wall hangings and plant hangers, and all these found a very receptive market in Hubballi and other cities. Thanks to Sanjeevini, her monthly income has gone from zero to Rs.30,000. After the loan repayment of Rs.2,000 per month, her profits are Rs.12,000 per month. The family saves Rs.1,000 each month; apart from being enrolled for life and health insurance, the family’s assets now include a motorbike. Encouraged by her achievements with the help of NRLM, Bibi Fathima now plans to expand her business.

Fragrant Success

Sanjeevini Champion: Usha Devadiga, Bhatkal taluk

Cultivating jasmine has proved a profitable venture for this homemaker turned Sanjeevini champion in Uttara Kannada district.

Usha Devadiga is all set to expand her business.

Her husband's income as a tailor in their village of Mavalli proving insufficient, Usha Devadiga thought of growing jasmine on a commercial scale. Though a graduate, she had not worked anywhere and was keen to be self employed. She, however, lacked funds to do so and turned to the Ashakiran Sanjeevini Self Help Group under the Sri Jatageshwara Ward Level Federation. She was able to get a loan of Rs.35,000 to start growing jasmine. She has been able to make a success of it with training and hand holding by Sanjeevini. The profits have helped the family increase its earnings; she was able to buy a sewing machine, for her husband who has set up shop independently as a tailor. They have bought a motorbike and have health insurance. With the family income going up to Rs.16,000 and loans being repaid, Usha is keen to expand her business.

Environmentally Aware

Katyayini Eco Bag Unit, Ankola taluk

In the wake of the global environment consciousness, the members of this self help group zeroed in on making eco-friendly bags as an alternative to plastic bags, and are helping improve their lives as well as the world.

The members of the Katyayani self help group have managed to increase their internal savings and can afford better education for their children.

Sanjeevini Interventions:

Members have undergone several government-sponsored training and awareness programmes

Members underwent a 10-day residential training in tailoring and screen printing at RSETI, Kumta

CIF : Rs.1.5 lakh Infrastructure : Gram Panchayat building provided to house the manufacturing unit Increased Production : 50,000 bags per week has provided Rs.5,000 earning per member every month

Katyayani Eco Bag Unit in Avarsa village in Ankola taluk of Uttara Kannada district consists of 8 members who make eco bags. Back in 2014, around 45 SHGs in and around Ankola taluk formed five WLFs and a GPLF, named Sri Katyayani Sanjeevini GPLF. With constant support from the NRLM officials, the GPLF had been conducting several awareness programmes for women empowerment and alternate livelihood sustenance methods.

In the wake of global environment consciousness, the GPLF members zeroed in on making eco-friendly bags as an alternative to plastic bags. Having reached a mutual agreement, the members approached NRLM for skill development and training. Around 25 members underwent a 10-day long training programme at RSETI, Kumta, and learnt the art of tailoring and screen printing. With the initiation of Mission 55, the women were motivated further to start livelihood activities with the support of NRLM Community Investment Funds and bank loans. “The Chief Executive officer, Zilla Panchayat, Uttara Kannada was of the opinion that we should have a bag making unit as there was a huge market for it”, says Prema Bhat, a member. The PDo of Avarsa Gram Panchayat encouraged the endeavour by providing the Gram Panchayat building to house the facility. The Katyayani Eco Bag Unit with 8 GPLF members was born with CIF of Rs.1.5 lakh from the GPLF and a bank loan of Rs.2 lakh. This helped the members to purchase four highspeed weaving machines and raw materials from the Hubballi market. The unit boasts of manufacturing high-quality eco-friendly bags and has a wide local market. The margins are decent and the recognition is widespread. The unit is also registered under Udyog Adhar and GEM portal.

Fuelling Growth

Sanjeevini Champion: Ambika Walikar, Sindgi taluk

It’s quite an achievement for a person who has just a primary school education to earn a monthly income of Rs.35,000, especially in a remote village in Vijayapura district. Ambika Walikar has managed to do this and pull her family out of abject poverty, thanks to Sanjeevini’s intervention.

Ambika Walikar was determined not to let poverty continue to rule her life, and is among the women who are changing the landscape of the rural economy, thanks to Sanjeevini NRLM.

Ambika Walikar belongs to a very poor family in Yankachi village in Vijayapura district, and it was very hard for their family to make ends meet. Her husband was the sole bread earner for the family of four and in spite of having an acre of agricultural land, the family found it hard to feed themselves. Deciding that she needed to do something about it, she grabbed the opportunity when a neighbour told her about the Sanjeevini NRLM programme. At her urging, Ambika joined the Chowdeshwari SHG and over time, accumulated savings, and decided to take the entrepreneurial plunge. She expressed her intention to the TMMU staff who conducted a market survey. The team advised her to set up a roti manufacturing unit, as making this staple food was time consuming, there would be many customers for readymade rotis in the region. The Financial Inclusion Team helped her secure a loan of Rs.50,000 from the Community Investment Fund available with the GPLF and with the addition of Rs.50,000 from her savings, she was able to finance her start up. She attended an Entrepreneurship Development Programme training at RSETI and was also trained at a district roti manufacturing unit in the use of a solar powered roti making machine. The TMMU team helped her in procuring a solar powered roti making machine through convergence with the SELCo Foundation.

Ambica’s rotis are much sought after in the traditional restaurants, the khanawalis in the region and families buy her rotis, too. Ambika makes about 1,000 rotis a day and earns around Rs.500 to Rs.1,000 per day. The solar powered machine helps save money on electricity bills. The flourishing business earns her around Rs.35,000 and helped ease the financial burden on her family and increase their standard of living. Ambika attributes her success to the availability of loans from Sanjeevini at very low interest rates; she has already repaid around Rs.32,500 of the loan of Rs.50,000, and will soon be debt free. What next? “I am eager to grow my roti business by procuring an even bigger machine and I also want to install irrigation on our one acre farm. I am confident that all this will be possible with the help and guidance of Sanjeevini”, says Ambika.

Habit of Success

Sanjeevini Champion: Sharanamma Hamanavar, Yadgir taluk

One of the most backward districts in Karnataka, Yadgir has also the most number of women determined to break through the vicious cycle of poverty. Sharanamma Hamanavar is one such successful Sanjeevini champion who became self employed and broke out of poverty.

Sharanamma says, “ Shri Bhagyalakshmi SHG has helped me overcome the difficulties I faced in life.”

A resident of Kadachira gram panchayat in Yadgir taluk of Yadgir district, Sharanamma’s family of five struggled to eke out a livelihood from their five acres of dry agricultural land. They had to pay a high interest on the loans taken to provide for their children’s education. She came to know about the Sanjeevini programme from a neighbour who was a Master Community Resource Person and was enthusiastic to benefit from it.

The village elders suggested that she mobilise other women like her and this led to the formation of the Shri Bhagyalakshmi SHG, under the Shri Jhansi Rani Lakshmi Bai Sanjeevini Gram Panchayat Level Federation. Discussions with the SHG members threw up the idea of a hardware store, and through the internal lending mechanism, she got a loan of Rs.30,000. The hardware store yielded revenue averaging Rs.300 to Rs.500 each day. In a further spurt of entrepreneurship, she decided to open a photocopying centre; she felt that there was sufficient market for such a store as the villagers had to go elsewhere to get their documents photocopied. With internal lending of Rs.20,000, she bought a photocopying machine. With these two enterprises Sharanamma has increased her family income and earns anywhere between Rs.6,000 and Rs.8,000 per month. This has helped her repay the debts which she had incurred to pay for her children’s education and her husband’s medical expenses.

Gritty Tale

Sanjeevini Champion: Suvarna Mahendra, Yadgir taluk

Battling poverty while struggling to look after an ailing husband and provide for their three children, Suvarna Mahendra in Yadgir district, managed to free herself from a debt trap, thanks to Sanjeevini. With exemplary grit and skills, she now owns two successful micro businesses.

“My life changed for the better because of a loan from the self help group. I am not afraid of problems as Sanjeevini comes to my aid”, says Suvarna.

Suvarna of Duppalli village of Kadachira gram panchayat in Yadgir taluk was a landless labourer and life was a continual struggle as she was barely able to provide one meal a day for her family of five. Adding to her woes, her husband was constantly sick and she had to borrow money at high interest rates for his medical treatment.

She was invited to join the Jai Bhawani SHG when it was being formed and community leaders began guiding her under the Sanjeevini scheme. Soon, she was able to start saving on a monthly basis from her income, with the advice of the Master Book Keeper. She gained the confidence to take the entrepreneurial plunge and started a small cafe with a loan of Rs.10,000 through internal lending from the SHG. She promptly repaid the loan after the cafe started to get steady business. Next, she decided to open a grocery store with a loan of Rs.30,000 again through the internal lending of the SHG. Not only is she able to run the two enterprises well, she undertakes tailoring orders in her spare time. These livelihood activities have enabled her to provide a good education for her children and repay the loans she had taken for her husband's medical treatment. Hard work and diligence have allowed her to realise her dream of living a life of self respect and dignity.

“The National Rural Livelihood Mission is one of the major poverty alleviation programmes being implemented since 2010-11 in India under MoRD and since 2014 in Karnataka. Self help groups and their federations at various levels, Ward, Gram Panchayat and Block, are the pillars of this programme. Sanjeevini programme has consciously set about bringing under the fold of NRLM a number of existing SHGs (formed by various entities like the NGos, by the department, etc.). Efforts have been invested in building the capacities of these groups through vibrant capacity building and awareness programmes. All livelihood initiatives are channelised through them. Not only are they involved in implementing the programmes, but they are also an integral part of planning, decision making (both programme and financial) and programme monitoring. As of March 2020, there are a total of 1,65,245 SHGs and 4,175 Gram Panchayat Level Federations under the ambit of this programme in Karnataka”. - MK Ali, State Programme Manager, Social Mobilisation and Capacity Development, Sanjeevini - KSRLPS

The Enterprise Development sector has emerged as a highly vibrant and dynamic sector of the Indian economy over the last five decades. It contributes significantly in the economic and social development of the country by fostering entrepreneurship and generating largest employment opportunities at comparatively lower capital cost, next only to agriculture. In India, It is seen that out of 633.88 lakh estimated number of MSMEs, 324.88 lakh MSMEs (51.25%) were in rural area. Micro enterprise sector have played a major role in development of enterprise and creating employment opportunities in the rural areas of Karnataka. As per MSME annual report of 2018-19, Karnataka is among the top five states in terms of enterprises and creating employment. Sanjeevini-KSRLPS is promoting various nonfarm livelihood opportunities among rural BPL household through multiple interventions like Micro Enterprise Consultants Programme, initiation of weekly markets, Aajeevika Grameena Express Yojana, Make In Rurban India, Beacon pilots, Mission 55, Group and Individual Enterprise Development, capacity building on marketing strategies, product promotions, IEC development, one Stop Facility Centre, accessing government procurement and linkages, SARAS etc. 28395 SHG members have began their own 8098 Micro Enterprises with the support of NRLM, 05 AGEY vehicles are on road, about 900 women entrepreneurs were participated in various district, state, international level Melas, 44 weekly markets initiated and running successfully by our MECs. Sanjeevini is benefitting rural poor household by enhancing their livelihood and their living conditions.

- Sunanda State Program Manager A, MS, PRT & CP and Incharge non-farm Livelihood, Sanjeevini - KSRLPS “The role of SHGs is that of an agent of change through social dialogue. Women’s self help groups primarily began with thrift and credit activities and inculcated a habit of small savings among women. The SHGs also provide micro credit facilities for all needs and the recovery of loans is more than 90%. A major impact of SHGs and microcredit is that dramatic reduction in dependency on local money lenders. Sanjeevini’s role is to address poverty and livelihood issues by providing access to available resources with the government and other institutions, on a sustainable basis.” - Bellegowda, State Programme Manager (SD & COM), Sanjeevini - KSRLPS

“Sanjeevini KSRLPS - as the name suggests, has been a ‘life reviver’ for many women across the state of Karnataka. Working for livelihoods has been the goal of all the State Rural Livelihood Missions across the country, and Sanjeevini gone a step further by including tribals in the remote villages of Karnataka via Van Dhan Vikas Karyakram. The dynamic approach of Sanjeevini officers has been conducive to accepting new ideas to set up procurement centres across the state, that are run by and maintained by the community. Being part of the organisation, while working on the VDVK project, I have learnt how to include the last in the queue with the same dignity and extend opportunities to them. Sanjeevini has helped young professionals like me to simultaneously learn and execute on the field, instead of being either/or.” - Shubham Kumar, Young Professional, Farm Livelihoods/ NTFP in FLH, Sanjeevini - KSRLPS

“Digital technology occupies a key role in the development process and SHGs have also become a part of the digital world. Technology helps women in self help groups gain empowerment and especially the women entrepreneurs, as it enables them to reach a global market through social media networks. The bank linkage programme of microcredit helps women become entrepreneurs and make a variety of products. They have access to technology in the marketing process such as packaging, labelling, publicity material and channels, delivery channels.” - Shubha S L, MIS Consultant

“A poor woman is more determined than a man to fight for a better life, and self help groups help women in need to build their self-confidence through community action. Financial inclusion is an effective way to bring everyone on board to the path of development. We are in the path of closing the gender gap through financial inclusion that could have positive effects in easing access to resources, lowering financial risks and costs, providing security, increasing saving and investment rates, and facilitating new business opportunities.”

- Shyam Sunder, Programme Executive, Financial Inclusion

"INDIA lives in the villages and the Rural women form its backbone; With SANJEEVINI the Self help Group women have found ways to eliminate this poverty/ agony and have found pride in their very existence and their local skills has been revived"

- Rashmi Raj, MIS Specialist, Sanjeevini - KSRLPS

Working with women members of SHGs in Karnataka has been both fascinating and rewarding. I have witnessed, first hand, how Sanjeevini empowers women to become skilful entrepreneurs and owners of successful micro-businesses within their communities.

Women are naturally more fiscally responsible and are keen learners, which gives them an edge in starting and running enterprises. They are usually involved in homebased production and are adept at working in collectives or groups. Women pass these skills on to the next generation. However, infrastructure loopholes that obscure value addition, lack of innovation, lack of access to mainstream markets, and lack of information on best practices are among the problems that make these skills and knowledge redundant. Even though farming and non-farm activities such as pickle making, handloom etc are dominated by women, both are also areas where the role of women has often not been fully acknowledged. These activities were considered an extension of their household work, and not a genuine occupation and hence unaccounted in GDP or employment metrics which invisibilized their efforts and skills. Sanjeevini, through its farm and non-farm based livelihood initiatives, recognized their labour and build their capacities which led them to being identified as farmers and entrepreneurs. - Lynda N, Young Professional, Sanjeevini - KSRLPS

1 Bagalkote

2 Bagalkote Shree Indira Gandhi Sanjeevini Mahila Sangha Shree Lakshmi Stree Shakti SHG

3 Bagalkote Ratnavva Vaddara

4 Ballari Uma Shanbhogar

5 Ballari Hasanabhi

6 Belagavi Maya Aruna Honakhande

7 Bengaluru Rural Veena, Kateramma SHG

8 Bengaluru Urban

9 Bidar Srirama Sanjeevini Gram Panchayat Level Federation

Nagamma

10 Chamarajanagar Pankaja

11 Chikkaballapur Shree Maruthi SHG

12 Chikkaballapur Sri Saraswathi SHG

13 Chikkamagaluru

14 Chikkamagaluru

15 Chikkamagaluru Jyothi - Sri Punkyakoti Mahila SHG Mangalagowri - Chowdeshwari SHG, Ashwini - Prgathi Stree Shakti

16 Chitradurga Shalini

17 Dakshina Kannada Noor Jahan

18 Dakshina Kannada Ratnamma

19 Dakshina Kannada Keerthi Sanjeevini SHG

20 Dakshina Kannada Sanjeevini Highway Hub

21 Davanagere Ashvini J Katageri, Badami, Bagalkote Ilkal Sarees - Cotton blends and Pure Silk

Katageri, Badami, Bagalkote Jute bags and Ladies bags

Holageri GP, Badami Taluk, Bagalkote dt Uttangi Gram Panchayat, Huvinahadagalli Taluk Bagali Gram Panchayat in Harapanahalli Taluk Madhabhanvi village, Athani Taluk Ardeshanahalli, Devanahalli Taluk Peddanapalya village, Chollanayakanahalli gram panchayat Tulajapura village, Ekalara village panchayat, Bidar taluk Madhuvanahalli Village, Kollegala Taluk "Jikavandlapalli, Bagepalli TQ, Chikkaballapur Chinnasandra Chintamani Taluka & Chikkaballapur District Rottis

Phenyl

Bangles

Footwear

Beauty Parlour

Plastic Free initiative

Flour Mill

Mushroom Farming

Leather Puppet, Lamp shade, Wall art

Sanjeevini-Cafe

Nidagatta village, Kadur Taluk stuffed doll store

Vanvarike village, Sakarainaya GP, Kadur Taluk Karimane village, Tuluvina Koppa GP, Koppa Taluk H D Pura village of Holalkere taluk Navoor Gram Panchayat, Belthangady Taluk, Dakshina Kannada Adarsha SHG, Shibaje Gram Panchayat, Belthangady Taluk, Dakshina Kannada Kaukrady Puttur Taluk, Dakshina Kannada Kadaba GP Puttur Taluk, Dakshina Kannada horticulture farmer

Farming

Arecanut Plates

cattle

paper / arecanut plates

Microfinance SHG

FMCG Products

Bethuru Village, Davangere TQ Petty Shop

22 Davanagere Chimitha

23 Dharwad

24 Dharwad Shree Vishwa Bharathi Stree Shakthi Swasahaya Sangha Shree Kateshwar Sanjeevini SHG

Dhanammadevi Sanjeevini SHG

Ratna Konnur Gopanalu Village, Channagiri TQ Toys, dry fruits, oils

Uppin Betageri, Dharwad Taluk

Galagi -Hulakoppa, Kalagatagi

Abbigere Village, Ron Taluk

traditional baskets, mats and ropes Plastic free initiative and recycled bags manufacturing Nagedragada village Bangle store

30 Kalaburagi CoVID 19 Masks Gadag District

Ganapathi Sanjeevini SHG Belur Block, Lakkunda GP

Shruti Chandrashekar Naganagoudar, Shree Kannadathi Stree Shakti SHG Suttakoti Gram Panchayat, Hirekerur Taluk Mashal Village , Afzalpur Taluk , Gulbarga District CoVID 19 Masks

Cleaning products and Toiletries like Soap, Detergent Powder, Bleaching Powder.

Flour Mill

Sanitary Napkins, Diapers, Home decorative items

Amrutha SHG Mekeri GP, Madikeri Taluk poultry farming

Bharathiya Mahila SHG Maragodu GP, Madikeri Taluk Dairy, pig, and fish farming

Devi Bai

Manjula

Vijayamma Rajenahalli Village, Malur TQ, Kolar Dist. Jodipura Village, Malur TQ, Kolar Dist. S Bisnahalli Village, Mulbagal TQ, Kolar Dist. Popped, Ragi & Millets malt powder, etc. Millet Powder, Sambar Powder, Masala Powder

Decorative items

Lalitamma Badiger Hanumasagar, Kushtagi Tq, Kids toys

Vijayalakshmi Gowda Gunduru village, Gangavathi taluk artificial garlands

Bhavani SHG

Bharathmata Sanjeevini SHG

Puttamma Melukote, Pandavapura, Mandya

First Pakshirajapura,Hunsur, Mysore Hullahalli village, Nanjangud taluk Puliyogare, Puliyogare powder, Sambar powder, Rasam powder

Ayurvedic Herbal hair oil

organic farming

Gopamma

Sarojamma

Lakshmi Chapati Manufacturing Unit

Sridevi Sri Shakti SHG Hullahalli Village, Nanjangud GP Chikkareyoor village, HD Kote Taluk Rope Whisk

Goat farming and kirana store

Kembal Village, Rampur GP Chapati

Yelekudligi Village, Sindhanur Block Rotis 46 Ramanagara Kalavathi

47 Ramanagara S Asha

48 Ramanagara Suhasini SHG

49 Shivamogga Shivajyothi Swasahaya Sangha SHG

50 Shivamogga Bindu

51 Shivamogga Padmalatha Jain

52 Tumakuru Shree Anjaneya SHG Vibuthikere village, Ramanagar taluk Tagachagere village, Channapatna taluk Chamanahalli Village, Ramanagara TQ Clay products , cotton bags and wallets

Animal Husbandary

Terracotta items, Kalamkari bags, Kalamkari purse

Hosudi Post, Shimoga, Shimoga Pearl Jewellery

B. Biranahalli village, Shivamogga taluk Sharavati village, Tumari gram panchayat, Sagar taluk "Singapura, Chiknayakanhalli, Tumakuru Areca nuts

Ready Mix Batters

Castor oil, Groundnut oil, Coconut oil

53 Tumakuru Shaileshree Chiknayakanahalli C.N Halli oil extraction

54 Udupi Vanitha S Moily Nitte GP, Karkala TQ Tailor shop

55 Uttara Kannada Katyayini Eco Bag Unit Avarsa Village, Ankola TQ, UK Dist. Eco Bags

56 Uttara Kannada Usha Umesh Devadiga

57 Uttara Kannada Sujata Narayan Hegde Narekul Village, Bhatkal TQ, UK Dist Hitalli Village, Yellapur TQ, UK Dist.

Jasmine cultivation (Mallige Krushi) Spice cultivation and organic food 58 Uttara Kannada Bibi Fathima Hungund Village, Mundgod TQ, UK Dist. Macrame Joola, Wall hanging 59 Vijayapura Ambika Walikar Yankachi Gram Panchayat Rotis

60 Yadgir Suvarna Mahendra Duppali, Kadacheura GP Grocery store and restaurant

61 Yadgir Sharanamma Hamanavar Kadacheura gram panchayat in Yadgir taluk Hardware Store

AGEY- Aajeevika Grameen Express Yojana AAP- Annual Action Plan BDSP- Business Development Support Provider BRP- Block Resource Person CBo- Community Based organization CB- Capacity Building CBRM- Community Based Repayment Mechanism/ Community Based Recovery Mechanism CHC - Custom Hiring Centre CSC- Community Service Centre CIF- Community Investment Fund CFC- Common Facility Centre CSR- Corporate Social Responsibility CEo- Chief Executive officer CLF- Cluster-Level Federation DAY-NRLM- Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihood Mission DMMU- District Mission Management Unit DDU-GKY- Deen Dayal Upadhyay Grameen Kaushalya Yojana DPM- District Project Manager DTE- District Technical Expert DFS- Digital Financial Services DSIIC- District Social Innovation and Incubation Centres EC- Empowered Committee FE- Farm Enterprise FI- Financial Inclusion FDVRC- Foundation for Development of Rural Value Chain FFS - Regular Farmer Field School FLH- Farm Livelihood FNHW- Food, Nutrition, Health and WASH FPC – Farmer Producer Company FPo – Farmer Producer organisations FSSAI- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India GP- Gram Panchayat GPDP - Gram Panchayat Development Plan IBCB- Institution Building and Capacity Building GPLF- Gram Panchayat-Level Federation ICRISAT- International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics IEC- Information, Education and Communication KMF- Karnataka Milk Federation KSRLPS- Karnataka State Rural Livelihood Promotion Society LCRP- Local Community Resource Person MBK- Master Book Keeper MCRP- Master Community Resource Person MEC- Micro-Enterprise Consultant MGNREGA- Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act MIP- Micro Investment Plan MIRI- Made in Rurban India MIS - Management Information System MKSP- Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana MoRD - Ministry of Rural Development MoU- Memorandum of Understanding MSME- Ministry of Small and Micro Enterprises MYRADA – Mysore Resettlement and Development Agency NMMU- National Mission Management Unit NPA – Non Performing Asset NPM - Non Pesticide Management NRLP - National Rural Livelihood Program NRETP- National Rural Economic Transformation Project NRo- National Resource organization NRP- National Resource Person NTFP- Non-Timber Forest Produce oSF- one-Stop Facility PG – Producer Groups PIA- Project Implementing Agency PMSBY- Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana PMJJBY- Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana PVTG- Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group PWD- Persons with Different Abilities RF- Revolving Fund RSETI- Rural Self Employment Training Institute SHG- Self Help Groups SLBC- State Level Bankers' Committee SMMU- State Mission Management Unit SMD- State Mission Director SFURTI- Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries SRLM - State Rural Livelihoods Mission SRP- State Resource Person SVEP- Start-up Village Entrepreneurship Programme SWM - Solid Waste Management TGM- Target Group Member ToR- Terms of Reference TMMU- Taluk Mission Management Unit TRIFED- Tribal Cooperative Marketing Development Federation of India TSA- Technical Support Agency VDVK- Van Dhan Vikas Karyakram VRF- Vulnerability Reduction Fund VRP- Vulnerability Reduction Plan WLF- Ward-Level Federation

Sanjeevini - A Powerful Enabler © 2020

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SANJEEVINI-KSRLPS

Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood Department

Office of the Mission Director, No. 4, Mysugar Building, J C Road, Kumbaragundi, Kalasipalya, Bengaluru, Karnataka - 560002. Email ID: nrlmkarnataka@gmail.com