SELF HELP GROUP

Self Help Group (SHG) is one of the most important grassroots institutions promoted under the North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project (NERCORMP). These groups, usually consisting of 10–20 members from the same village, are primarily formed among women to promote savings, credit, and income-generating activities. SHGs provide a strong platform for poor and marginalized households to come together, support one another, and work collectively towards improving their socio-economic well-being.

SHG functions as the first level of organized community institution. Members learn financial discipline, practice decision-making, and build solidarity through collective action. By pooling resources, SHGs are able to provide small loans to members, reduce dependence on informal moneylenders, and instil the habit of regular savings. Over time, these groups are linked with banks and financial institutions, enabling access to credit and various government schemes.

SHGs play a vital role in livelihood promotion and social empowerment. With NERCORMP’s support, SHG members take up activities such as agriculture, livestock rearing, weaving, handicrafts, and small enterprises. They also become platforms for women to build leadership skills, learn bookkeeping, and engage in decision-making. SHGs serve as spaces for addressing social concerns such as health, education, sanitation, and gender equality, thereby contributing to stronger communities.

The impact of SHGs is visible in the lives of many women in the area CDS Served for, who have used SHG membership to improve incomes through farming, piggery, handicrafts, and small-scale businesses. As a project partner, Community Development Society (CDS) has facilitated the formation of 83 SHGs in Churachandpur District, providing continuous training, handholding support, and bank linkages. SHGs under NERCORMP are more than savings groups—they are dynamic institutions driving financial resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and women’s empowerment at the grassroots.