Team Herald
PANJIM: A new report by the Goa Livelihoods Forum has revealed a paradigm shift in Goa’s rural economy, with women-led self-help groups (SHGs) playing a pivotal role in driving economic change.
The comprehensive survey report, released by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, underscores the growing importance of SHGs in promoting rural empowerment and diversifying household expenditure in the state.
Sawant hailed Goa’s rural economy for its unprecedented growth, stating, “Goa has made unprecedented achievements in the growth of the rural economy, signifying a paradigm shift in economic trends. The self-sufficiency of households, driven by women, has become a hallmark of sustainable growth and empowerment in rural areas.”
The report, an impact assessment study carried out by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in collaboration with the Goa Livelihoods Forum, highlights the crucial role of the Goa State Rural Livelihood Mission (GSRLM) in implementing the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) in Goa. Since 2020, the Goa Livelihoods Forum has been serving as the Project Management Unit (PMU) for GSRLM.
In five years, between 2020 and 2024, there was a 60% increase in the number of households mobilised into SHGs, and a 65% rise in the overall number of SHGs brought under the GSRLM’s umbrella. A notable 131% increase was observed in the number of Village Organisations (VOs) formed under GSRLM.
The revival of dormant SHGs has also been a key success, with 50% of inactive SHGs revived in the last four years. Furthermore, the growth of non-farm-based livelihoods, under the Start-Up Village Entrepreneurship Programme (SVEP), saw an astonishing 556% increase. Additionally, the Prime Minister’s Formalization of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (PMFME) scheme experienced a significant 251% rise during the same period.
Rural Development Minister Govind Gawade, speaking at the event, encouraged students and social development practitioners to study the report, emphasising the efficient management of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission project in Goa, particularly the role of GSRLM and the Goa Livelihoods Forum.