Guwahati: To promote the livelihood in farming and non-farming sector for rural women, Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ASRLM) and UN Development Programme (UNDP) signed a letter of understanding on Wednesday.
This collaboration under Assam’s panchayat and rural development department will pave the way for the holistic socio-economic development of rural women. The agency will work for a collaborative approach towards sustainable livelihood initiatives.
The joint mission also stressed the strategies and methodologies to yield high incomes of the self-help-groups (SHG) in the rural areas. The mission included that the SHG members will now be able to receive international expertise on their indigenous livelihood practices. This will also help the women to try their hands on various innovative, profitable, and sustainable livelihood prospects.
Three blocks will carry out the project at the initial stage. The UN agency will be providing financial assistance besides providing resources and man-power.
The agency will extend various capacity-building programmes for the SHG members in the projected areas and develop various modules. The plan also includes support in sectors such as market linkage, strengthening the producer groups and enterprises and, formulation of business development plans.
The convergence will boost the overall socio-economic development of the state, which will further strengthen the weaker section in society. To address the issue of poverty, this collaboration will ensure the skill and knowledge up-gradation of rural women.