Sri Vijaya Puram: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands Rural Livelihood Mission (ANIRLM) launched a six-day orientation and assessment programme on June 23 to build capacity among its Community Cadre and staff, aiming to strengthen self-help groups (SHGs) and their federations across the islands. The programme, running till June 28 at Tagore College of Education, is being held in collaboration with the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), Hyderabad.
Inaugurated by the Secretary (RD/Panchayati Raj), Arjun Sharma, the initiative marks a renewed effort to enhance grassroots-level financial literacy and livelihood interventions through a skilled support system. More than 150 community resource persons and officials from various blocks participated in the opening session.
Officials from Rural Development, panchayat-level officers, and national resource persons from NIRDPR are leading the sessions, which are focused on operationalising the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) scheme more effectively in the Union Territory. The sessions cover a wide range of issues, including poverty alleviation, functioning of community-based organisations, gender inclusion, and food and nutrition awareness.
Specialised inputs are also being provided by resource personnel from the State Bank of India and the Rural Self-Employment Training Institute (RSETI), Sri Vijaya Puram. These sessions aim to deepen the understanding of financial instruments, savings, credit management, and income generation opportunities among SHG members.
Arjun Sharma acknowledged the vibrancy of SHGs across the islands and urged the support system to focus on enabling these groups with the tools and information needed to scale up their activities. He appreciated the inclusion of financial literacy modules, which he said would help SHG members navigate the complexities of microfinance and self-employment.
Block Development Officers from Ferrargunj and Prothrapur, along with NIRDPR representatives, stressed the role of Community Cadres in promoting rural empowerment and inclusion. They highlighted that SHG federations must now evolve into more structured, financially literate, and economically active units that can interface with both government schemes and financial institutions.
Over the next few days, the programme will train the cadres on using digital tools like LokOS and model CLF strategies while reinforcing social development priorities, including health, hygiene, and nutrition. The emphasis on cross-learning and innovation is expected to yield a fresh roadmap for livelihood missions tailored to island-specific challenges.
The administration has indicated plans to conduct more such programmes in collaboration with NIRDPR in the coming months to further empower the SHG ecosystem in the Union Territory.
As SHGs emerge as key drivers of rural upliftment, the success of such capacity-building initiatives may well define the trajectory of grassroots economic development in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
