Self Help Group

Artisan SHG
An artisan's self help group is a collective of all the local people involved in the building trade, including masons, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, bar binders, painters etc. The design of the buildings can be made by the UNV or by the house owner. The idea is to form a ‘one-stop-shop', where in the unified team takes up construction projects on a turnkey basis. Hence, a person desirous of constructing his building can approach this group and find all the services, from design to delivery, under one roof. This helps the group members to find a constant supply of work unlike previously when he worked on an individual basis. These groups are trained to specifically work in appropriate technologies that UNDP promotes, so that they are capable of completing the houses built under the stringent budgets of the government schemes. After UNDP moves out, the UNVs will become development technocrats' and no longer give free service but will charge for their services. The SHG has to become self-dependent

These SHGs are then federated at district level. They form a network and have regular meetings to discuss problem and implement improvements.

The chief objective is to reinforce the capacity of these agencies so that they can carry forward the building movement initiated by UNDP, even after its withdrawl. The resources developed by way of the SHG can then be used to carry forward the process of technology transfer there.

See the SHG in Rahana village, in Balikuda

Woman's SHG,
A woman's self help group is a committee of the local women in a village, which gives economic independence to women and empowers them. The women invest small sums of money in saving schemes. They sometimes use this money and sometimes apply for loans to start small-scale businesses, which becomes a source of livelihood for them and their families. They also have borrowing facilities, by way of which they have money readily available to them in the time of need, which they can gradually return in easy instalments. UNDP connects these women to the various banks and institutions, which support such activities. Their women UNVs supervise their meetings and activities and make suggestions for further improvement to ensure the smooth functioning of the group.

Refer to documents on the woman's SHG
The SHG in Olaso village, in Kendrapara