What Insights Did the Ethiopian Delegation Gain from Rajasthan's Rural Livelihood Initiatives?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Ethiopian delegation engaged with Rajasthan's rural livelihood programs.
- Insights into women’s empowerment through SHGs were gained.
- Exploration of community-driven models for sustainable development.
- Importance of financial inclusion highlighted by participating banks.
- Collaboration between government schemes and community-based institutions.
Jaipur, Oct 30 (NationPress) A 29-member delegation from the Government of Ethiopia visited Rajasthan on October 29 and 30 to explore the community-based livelihood and women’s empowerment initiatives under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) in the state.
The delegation included 15 Ethiopian government officials, three from the World Bank, seven from Micro-Save Consulting, and four from NRLM.
The primary goal of the visit was to comprehend the structure, implementation, and outcomes of Rajasthan’s rural livelihood programs, facilitated by the Rajasthan Grameen Ajeevika Vikas Parishad (Rajeevika).
On October 29, the Ethiopian delegation explored several villages in Alwar district, engaging with Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Village Organisations (VOs), and Cluster-Level Federations (CLFs) led by women within the Rajeevika framework.
The delegation closely observed the processes of SHG formation, inter-loaning systems, and income-generating activities executed through Producer Groups (PGs) and Producer Enterprises (PEs).
Ethiopian officials praised the community-driven model and the leadership exhibited by women in SHGs, expressing admiration for the strides made towards sustainable rural livelihoods and women’s socio-economic empowerment.
On Thursday, the delegation visited the State Project Management Unit (SPMU) of Rajeevika in Jaipur, where they received a warm welcome. During the session, District Project Managers provided deep insights into ongoing programs and innovations at Rajeevika.
Neha Giri, IAS, State Mission Director, delivered a thorough presentation on various rural development programs being executed in Rajasthan under the Ministry of Rural Development.
She highlighted the convergence of different government schemes and the significance of community-based institutions in promoting inclusive development.
The meeting also included senior officials from participating banks, who informed the delegation about the credit linkages and financial mechanisms available to SHGs statewide.
Senior bankers from SLBC, SBI, PNB, RGB, BoI, ICICI, and HDFC participated in discussions focused on enhancing financial inclusion.
Chaired by Neha Giri, IAS, the meeting saw participation from senior representatives of the Ethiopian delegation, NRLM, along with the Project Director (Administration) and State Project Managers from Rajeevika.
The discussions provided valuable insights into Rajasthan’s model of rural livelihoods, community mobilisation, and women-led enterprise development.