SHG Interactive Session with Udayani Social Action Forum

• Dibyo Bani Niketan, Gonpada
• 28.01.2022
• 9.30 am to 1.30 pm

On 28th January 2022, Gonpada Navjeevan Welfare Trust organized an interactive session for SHG women at Dibyo Bani Niketan Gonpada from 9.30 am to 1.30 pm with a purpose to empower the SHG members to be change makers through awareness generation on their rights as well as the process, and to promote the need for qualities of solidarity, teamwork, perseverance, interpersonal communication and courage for communal & personal welfare. The session was held in collaboration with Udayani Social Action Forum. Around 80 SHG women from Udayani and GNWT participated in the session. The session started with a formal programme followed by the session. The SHG Animators of GNWT welcomed the team of Udayani with fruit saplings and uthorio. Fr. Lawrence D’ Almeida, GNWT Secretary then extended his regards to the team and briefed about the GNWT activities as well as its achievements in the 5 thematic areas- Education and Skill Development, Capacity Building and Women Empowerment, Nutrition-Health & Hygiene, Rural Livelihood Programmes and Protection and Preservation of Environment. The introduction was followed by a short interactive session between 4 former nursing students of GNWT and the participants. Members of Udayani asked several questions to the students on their motivation, achievement and how they feel after been qualified for a job; to which the students first extended their gratitude to GNWT for motivating several backward and marginalized youth for education and skill development programmes, and even promised to take forward the task of awareness generation among other aspiring youth/children. The short discussion was followed by SHG interactive session among the participants. Women from Udayani, especially the field leaders shared their valuable experience in the formation of SHGs, SHG federation and other mobilizing activities in different Blocks of West Bengal. The women exchanged words on failure and challenges during group formation and mobilization; the learning and success stories as well as the methods/ tactics used to enforce their demands and enjoy their welfare entitlements. The session was an innovative method to build communication skill, share leadership skills and provide exposure to the tribal/ backward SHG women who have always been confined to their household. The meeting ended with a lot of learning and experiences. Fr. Lawrence D’ Almeida extended hearty thanks to the Udayani team for their participation and expressed his desire for more of such learning sessions in future. The programme concluded with group photograph and lunch.