Deliberations focus on women-led enterprises, supportive supervision, self-reliant rural institutions
Srinagar, : The workshop on the National Supportive Supervision Framework (NSSF) and the SHE-LiFE initiative concluded in Srinagar today, with senior officials and key stakeholders deliberating on strengthening rural livelihoods, scaling up women-led enterprises and building self-reliant community institutions under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
The regional workshop organized by DAY-NRLM and hosted by the Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission focused on empowering rural women entrepreneurs. Amit Shukla, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Rural Development, emphasized the importance of transitioning women from Mahila Kisans to Mahila Udyamis, highlighting the role of digital platforms and improved market access in establishing 1.6 lakh women-led enterprises. He advocated for prioritizing quality over quantity in community institutions and stressed the need for support to Self-Help Group members at early entrepreneurial stages, with Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) playing a central role in governance and livelihood support. Dr. Monika B., Deputy Secretary, reinforced the significance of grassroots empowerment, noting that strong women-led institutions are vital for sustainable rural prosperity. She pointed out that continuous capacity building and effective governance are essential for transforming Self-Help Groups into self-governing entities. The workshop included discussions on actionable strategies, technology-enabled solutions, and the expansion of economic opportunities for rural women, focusing on sustainability and market integration. A key outcome was the introduction of the National Supportive Supervision Framework, designed to provide a collaborative coaching model with management tools and governance benchmarks. Additionally, a strategic roadmap was unveiled to develop 5,000 Model CLFs over the next five years, aiming to transform them into autonomous “Swavalambi CLFs.” Dr. Shubhra Sharma, Mission Director of JKRLM, expressed her satisfaction with the workshop’s collaborative spirit, emphasizing the importance of shared experiences among representatives from various states to enhance rural livelihoods through innovative strategies and coordinated interventions.
