Agartala, May 26: Women members elected to the village council in Tripura have taken a lead in paving the way for a large number of poor women to become self-reliant.

Jaynagar Gram Panchayat under Jirania block of West Tripura district is a Self-Help Group (SHG), which reaches out to the rural poor, especially the womenfolk to create employment opportunities for them.

With the joint effort of 11 women members, the SHG generates allied productive vocations for the poor families.

Besides Jayanagar Gram Panchayat (the village council), there are several other SHGs that are operational in the block. They provide ample support to the needy families and have also been active in other spheres such as education, drinking water, road connectivity and community health programmes.

“Our SHG consists of 11 women. From preparing incense sticks, packaging to marketing all is done by women. Another 200 women work with us and have become self-employed. They earn money by making incense sticks which are made out of locally available raw materials,” said Mithu Chakraborty, a Self-Help Group member, Jirania, Tripura

Although the Self-Help Groups exist only at the village level, the fact is that these women members of the village councils have played a stellar role in empowerment of women. Their initiatives have also helped in poverty alleviation at grass root level.

“We have constructed many roads, small bridges for connectivity and at every location created SHG’s (Self-help groups) for employment and earning sources for the villages particularly the women so that they can earn for their family and develop,” said Juhlera Khatun, Panchayat member in Jirania, Tripura

“All members are women member and they are doing extremely good in different development work. We’re hopeful that our women are not lagging behind in any field in our block,” said Asim Saha, Block Development Officer (BDO) of Jirania in Tripura

This is evidence enough to prove the willingness, determination and capability of women of the state.

Women, who until recently were housewives and used to do domestic chores, are today adding to the family income by their efforts.

“Earlier, there was no electricity. But now with the help of this self-help group condition of roads has improved. Even today we have water supply, schools and old age pension for the aged people,” said Sabitri Debnath, a village woman. (ANI)