WITH proper implementation of Mahatma Gandhi National Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and other ambitious schemes, women associated with self-help groups have got a permanent source of employment. Four women, who were earlier confined to the four walls, are now running a canteen and have become an inspiration for many women alike. Lives of Indrani, Urmila, Sunita and Satobai have changed completely and credit goes to MGNREGA and Chhattisgarh State Livelihood Mission (Bihaan). These women of a Self-Help Group (SHG) are daily earning Rs 1200 by running ‘Bihaan Canteen’ in work-shed built by convergence of MGNREGA and 14th Finance Commission. These four women are members of Bharat Mata SHG of Rajnawagaon of Bodla block in Kabeerdham district. These women started the canteen by borrowing a sum of Rs 30,000 from the village organisation formed under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM).

 

Their art of cooking made their canteen famous in region. Tourists visiting tourist and religious places in Bhoramdev, people working in Bhoramdev livelihood centre and farmers coming to nearest paddy procurement centre started visiting their canteen in large numbers. This canteen started in last week of October-2021, and these women have so far earned Rs 60,000. By saving Rs 30,000, they have started repaying their loan. Urmila Dhurve, Secretary of Bharat Mata SHG said that her group has been formed under NRLM. The group had taken a loan of Rs 30,000 from the village organisation to buy utensils and ration for running the canteen. Urmila said that they serve fresh breakfast and tea to the customers visiting their canteen. In a day, they earn Rs 1,200 and divide it equally.

 

With the help of MGNREGA and Bihaan, they have become self-reliant and financially stable, she added. Rajanwagaon Sarpanch Ganguram Dhurve said that the work-shed made under MGNREGA was approved in the year 2020-21 on the basis of the proposal of the Gram Panchayat. This shed adjacent to Bhoramdev livelihood centre was completed in July-2021 at a cost of Rs 7 lakh. The MGNREGA workers of the village got employment of 335 man-days during its construction and received a wages of about Rs 64,000. This asset created by the convergence of MGNREGA and 14th Finance Commission has given women a new means of livelihood in the form of canteens, he added.