Rupjyoti SHG is a female group at Daloigaon under Central Jorhat Development block. The group was formed in the year 2006 with a membership of twenty women. This SHG’s experience proves how women with the help of the cooperative principles organize themselves to beat poverty and despair.
The primary purpose of self help groups is to improve the socio-economic status of poor rural women, especially to increase their income. The women were informed about the process of group formation and the benefits that would arise from such group formation.
Observing their interest for formation of a SHG to develop their socio-economic condition the L.M., NCUI, Cooperative Education Field Project, Jorhat took initiative in formation of the group along with the officials of the concerned block and also guided them for opening an account in the bank.
All the members decided to conduct a meeting of SHG, twice a month and decided that each member would deposit an amount of 30/- per month. In the monthly meeting the contributions would be mobilised and money deposited in the bank in the first week of every month so that members of the groups can take loan when needed.
The members of the group are primarily engaged in weaving. They prepare Assamese dresses like gamosa, makhalla sadar, woollen shawl, tangali (uses at the time of bohag bihu) etc. in their own handlooms. Therefore, they undertake tailoring, stitching and embroidery activities like pillow cover, handkerchief, table cover etc. They also make some of the decorated items according to their needs.
The SHG members are engaged in some seasonal work. They prepare varieties of food
items like pickle, at the time of bihu, laru-pitha, muri, various other items made by coconut which are sold locally. Some of the members are involved in the activities like cow keeping, goatry and poultry. They also use the milk for daily use in their houses.
During last two years, they mobilised their own resources through thrift and credit activity. But, now they have diversified their activity with the help of loan taken from the Assam Gramin Vikash Bank, Lahdoigarh, Jorhat. They got loan from AGBB amounting to Rs. 40,000/- for the first time and after repayment of the loan again they again got Rs. 1,20,000/- from DRDA with 50% subsidy.
The group is progressing day by day. The group maintains proceeding book, cash book, loan ledger and monthly savings book with the assistance and supervision of the lady mobiliser.