The Aryavarth Express
Agency(New Delhi): In a significant effort towards improving the well-being of rural communities across India, the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), conducted a two-day regional workshop. The workshop brought together 17 State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLMs) and key stakeholders to strategize and enhance food, nutrition, health, and WASH (FNHW) outcomes for over 9.98 crore members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and their households.
The workshop was graced by Dr. Sharanaprakash Rudrappa Patil, Minister of Medical Education & Skill Development, Entrepreneurship, and Livelihoods, Karnataka, who served as the Chief Guest. Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Skill Development Entrepreneurship and Livelihood, Karnataka, Ms. Uma Mahadevan, and Joint Secretary of MoRD, Ms. Smriti Sharan, were also present, emphasizing the importance of this initiative.
Dr. Sharanaprakash Rudrappa Patil acknowledged the unwavering commitment and dedication of women in the success of poverty alleviation programs. He highlighted income generation activities, such as the production of sanitary napkins, as sustainable livelihood options for SHG women. Dr. Patil emphasized the importance of marketing SHG products and facilitating linkages with banks to further empower women’s collectives.
Ms. Uma Mahadevan commended the potential of women collectives, suggesting that SHGs should be established in as many as 6000 gram panchayats in Karnataka. She stressed that women become influencers by adopting recommended behavior changes in their daily activities. FNHW interventions through women collectives hold immense potential for convergence and positive impact.
Ms. Smriti Sharan emphasized the significance of FNHW integration in DAY-NRLM, stating that multidimensional poverty is a significant barrier to lifting people out of poverty. FNHW interventions play a crucial role in moving towards a nutritionally sufficient nation and improving livelihoods for women. The MoRD plans to collaborate with Line Ministries to contribute significantly to improved nutrition, health, and sanitation in rural communities.
The regional workshop aimed to consolidate the lessons learned from ongoing efforts and interventions by SHGs under DAY-NRLM to enhance the health, nutrition, and WASH status of rural communities. SHGs and their federations promote health-seeking behavior, create agri-nutri gardens for year-round nutritious meals, and facilitate access to entitlements and services to achieve better nutrition and health outcomes.
This workshop was the second in a series of consultations designed to summarize FNHW achievements, draft guidelines for effective strategy implementation across states, enhance collaborations with line departments and development partners, and explore innovations and research to amplify SHGs’ efforts.
Officials from various State Rural Livelihoods Missions, Women and Child Departments, Health Departments, Drinking Water and Sanitation Departments, along with Community Resource Persons (CRP), shared their on-ground experiences and journeys towards improving nutrition and health in rural communities.
An interactive panel discussion engaged experts, researchers, academicians, development agencies, and line departments in strengthening FNHW aspects for the betterment of rural communities. Additionally, three community resource persons from Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Karnataka shared their on-ground FNHW activities and experiences that yielded positive results in their communities.
An exhibition-cum-marketplace showcased best practices and models of FNHW strategies, including Poshan Vatika and products by enterprises, highlighting behaviors that contribute to social development.
This initiative reflects a collaborative effort to enhance the quality of life and livelihoods in rural India through nutrition, health, and sanitation interventions.