Rural women entrepreneurs bring about change, tell success stories
NAVIMUMBAI:SUNITA Patil, 39, a resident of Jalgaon, had never spoken a word in English.
On Monday, she joined members of a self-help group in singing a song in English, sharing their experiences of their entrepreneurial journey.
“This is the confidence that we have built over a period of time. We are financially independent, thanks to Maharashtra State Rural Livelihood Mission (MSRL),” said Patil, from Akhil Bhartiya Mahila Bachat Gat.
On Monday, six self-help groups (SHGS) were awarded at a function in Kharghar during the launch of Mahaasmita Innovation Livelihoods Acceleration Programme (MILAP), an initiative by MSRL and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
Kamal Kumbhar from Salagar in Osmanabad has given employment to around 5,000 women.
“I run a small-scale business of poultry, goat farming and promote agro-tourism. I had to strive to not only increase productivity but also to concentrate on quality and standards of products,” said Kumbhar, who was awarded by the Confederation of Indian Industry and United Nations Development Programme.
Pankaja Munde, minister for rural development, child and women development in Maharashtra, said, “Self-help groups give financial independence to women and enhance their overall development.”