The ruling dispensation has always laid a special focus on the development of rural areas, as it has been observed that these areas lack adequate facilities during previous years, as the Governments of that time were least considerate towards the same. The ruling dispensation, under able guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took a number of significant measures for development of these areas, as need was felt for boosting the ongoing process so that people of rural areas can enjoy all those facilities, enjoyed by their counterparts living in urban areas. Recently, taking a significant decision, the Ministry of Rural Development has decided to conduct a 15-day country-wide campaign from 7th to 20th of September, 2022 to expedite process of mobilisation of left-out poor rural poor women across 34 states and Union Territories into women’s Self Help Groups (SHGs) under DAY-NRLM’s fold. During the campaign, women institutions from each village will a conduct social mobilization event where each member will bring a friend, or neighbour who is a non-SHG member with them. The benefits of being a part of DAY-NRLM SHGs will be highlighted, and those non-members, thus motivated to join will be linked with these community institutions. Special strategies are also being prepared by block level staff across states to reach women in remote gram Panchayats. The campaign also aims to ensure that SHGs are included into higher-level federations; tier two level Village Organisations (VOs) and tier three level Cluster Level Federations (CLFs). The Ministry’s vision is that such federated structures will evolve into community-managed institutions of the poor that can lead programmes for livelihood and social development. Bank accounts will be opened for all the SHGs, VOs and CLFs within seven days of being formed. The campaign was announced on the September 5 by Nagendra Nath Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development. As on 31st August, more than 8.5 crore families have been linked with 78.33 lakh SHGs under DAY-NRLM’s fold.
