For undertaking praiseworthy works under the livelihood promotion field, three self help groups and one village organisation of the state have been awarded by the Union Government. Union Minister for Rural Development Narendra Singh Tomar has presented cash reward of Rs1 lakh to each self help group and a cash reward of Rs2 lakh to the village organisation at New Delhi.
Decision to present national award to honour self help groups and village organisations formed under the livelihood mission was taken first time by the Union Government. The three self help groups namely Shriram Self Help Group of village Niwoda district Guna, laxmi Self help Group of village Haroda district Agar-Malwa, Guruji Aajivika Self Help Group of village Bajipura district Dhar and Sankal Gram Sangathan of district Raisen were honoured with the national awards for their excellent works.
It may be mentioned that works are being carried out intensively in 195 blocks of 33 districts under the State livelihood Forum, Deendayal Antyodaya Scheme and State Rural livelihood Mission from 2012. Over 1.50 lakh self help groups are functioning in the state to organise women of poor families in the form of self help groups, to train them for empowerment and to provide self employment’s opportunities to their family members after skill development training programmes.
Under this, around 18 lakh families are linked and more than 12,000 village organizations have been made.