Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General (DG), World Trade Organization (WTO), interacted with the officials of Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India, and women of Self-Help Group (SHG) promoted under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), MoRD, on October 22, 2021.
Charanjit Singh, Joint Secretary, MoRD, led the discussions and Raghvendra Pratap Singh. Director, MoRD, and a team of thematic experts from the National Mission Management Unit, DAY-NRLM, MoRD attended the meeting. Brajendra Navnit, Ambassador & Permanent Representative of India to the WTO, Geneva, Switzerland, and Abhimaniu Sharma, DOC, Ministry of Commerce, participated at the meeting.
Charanjit Singh presented an overview of DAY-NRLM components and activities conducted by the SHGs during the Covid-19 outbreak. DG, WTO, also interacted virtually with Rambeti Sen, Master Krishi Sakhi of Vishwanath SHG from Madhya Pradesh, Sushma Devi, BC Sakhi of Durga SHG from Bihar, Jamuna, President of Krishna Bhagwan CLF, and Jai Chamunda SHG from Madhya Pradesh, Sujatha Unnikrishnan, Secretary of Vismaya SHG from Kerala, and Nandini Devi, Entrepreneur of Ma Gayatri SHG from Jharkhand.
DG, WTO, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, inquired from SHG members about their areas of work, experience of joining SHG, how it has impacted them economically and socially and how SHGs addressed challenges following the disease outbreak.
The SHG members shared their experience of working with SHG and informed that their economic and social situation has improved and now they are able to take care of their families, children, and themselves better. They informed about their work i.e. disbursement of money at the doorstep during the Covid-19, supporting SHG households in setting up of Agri-Nutrition Garden, promoting Agro-Ecological practices, setting up of enterprises like soap, sanitiser making, spices etc, awareness generation on Covid-19 appropriate behaviours, addressing Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy in the community, distribution of free dry rations and cooked food to the vulnerable etc.
DG, WTO, congratulated SHG members for their efforts in making a positive difference in their lives and community. She specially appreciated initiatives taken by the SHG members during the pandemic and wished them well in their future endeavours, according to a PIB release.