Port Blair, Mar 05: The Directorate of RD, PRIs and ULBs, A&N Administration is implementing the Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- Nation Rural Livelihood Mission” (DAY-NRLM) in the Islands since 2016 and has formed institutions of rural poor women such as Self Help Groups and Village Organizations (Primary Level Federations/PrLF) under the esteemed guidance and support of the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR), Hyderabad. Time to time capacity building of the members of these institutions is being done with the support of the NIRDPR for their empowerment.
Moving a step ahead towards formation of higher level of federation of rural poor women under DAY-NRLM, the Andaman & Nicobar Islands Rural Livelihood Mission (ANIRLM) under the Directorate of RD, PRIs and ULBs, A&N Administration has formed five Block Level Federations at Prothrapur, Ferrargunj, Rangat, Mayabunder and Diglipur under the guidance and support of a team of Resource Persons of NIRDPR, Hyderabad.
These Block Level Federations (BLFs) are formed by bringing together all Village Organizations (PrLF) in the said Blocks. The BLFs are formed to provide space, voice, better bargaining power and resources to the poor and reducing their dependence on external agencies. Now, all funding to the SHGs shall be routed through BLF which shall ensure proper development of all the SHGs attached to it through Village Organizations. These institutions will partner with Government, Public and Private sectors for the last mile delivery of social and economic services for the rural poor. It will also promote Livelihoods collectives, producers cooperatives/companies for deriving economies of scale, backward and forward linkages, and access to information, credit, technology, markets etc.
The formation of the said Block Level Federations was done in presence of State and Block level officials attached to ANIRLM, leaders of all Village Organizations (VO) under the Blocks and the Community Resource Persons engaged under DAY-NRLM for hand holding of SHGs and its smooth functioning. Basic orientation about the role, responsibilities and functioning of the BLF was done by the teams of NIRDPR.
Mr. Vinay Kumar Jindal, Director (RD/Panch) has informed that for smooth and effective functioning of BLFs, trainings on SOP of General Management, Vision Building, Business Development Plan, Financial projections, Accounting system, Internal and External Audit systems and Mechanism for monitoring shall be done in the coming months with the support of NIRDPR. Also, an exposure visit to the best performing BLFs of neighboring States shall be organized to learn better functioning of BLFs. We will strive hard to develop these BLF into the Model Block Level Federations in near future.
The Secretary (RD/Panch), Mr. Suneel Anchipaka, IAS has expressing his happiness on the introduction of federation of rural poors stated that this is a new concept for A&N Islands and greeted the Block Level Federations formed under DAY-NRLM. He further expressed that the formation of BLFs shall bring innovative ideas for empowerment & development of rural areas as well as better livelihood for the local populace. Robust Institutions would play pivotal role to alleviate rural poverty and realize Govt. of India’s visions of “Sabka Vikas Sabke Saath”.