TAWANG, SEP 24:
The Arunachal State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ArSRLM), Block Mission Management Unit (BMMU), Tawang, organised a one-day orientation programme for Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) members of Tawang Block on the Village Prosperity Resilience Plan (VPRP) at the IIM Shillong Satellite Centre, Tawang, on Thursday.
Through a presentation, BMM ArSRLM Tawang Thupten Chudup briefed participants on the mission’s activities, particularly the formation and strengthening of Self-Help Groups (SHGs). He highlighted their role in empowering rural women economically and socially and enabling them to become ‘Lakhpati Didis’.
Chudup explained that VPRP is a community-based demand plan to be incorporated into the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP). Its key components include the Entitlement Plan, Livelihood Plan, Public Goods, Services and Resource Development Plan, and Social Development Plan.
He said empowered women contribute to prosperous villages and emphasised the role of government and PRIs in providing sustained handholding and livelihood support to rural women.
Addressing the gathering, Tawang Panchayat Member Secretary and Deputy Director Rural Development Tenzin Jambey stressed the role of Panchayats in identifying developmental gaps at the grassroots level. He urged PRI members to map the needs of their respective villages and involve SHG members in preparing development plans.
Jambey also called for greater participation of line departments in the planning process. He suggested that, besides routine works such as CC steps, drains and retaining walls, Panchayat funds could be channelled towards horticulture, agriculture and allied livelihood activities to create sustainable economic opportunities. He urged PRI members to incorporate such initiatives into the upcoming GPDP of Tawang Block.
Tawang ZPM Sonam Nordzin appreciated BMMU-ArSRLM Tawang for organising the orientation programme and said it would strengthen Panchayat leaders’ understanding of their role in promoting SHGs and empowering rural women.
She also congratulated Nawang Chonzom on the registration of the Khandro Drowa Zangmo Cooperative Society and expressed hope that it would encourage other women and SHGs to pursue similar initiatives for economic self-reliance.
Nordzin assured support for SHG activities in Tawang Block and urged Panchayat leaders to discharge their responsibilities with sensitivity while dealing with the public.
The programme was attended by Assistant Commissioner-cum-DPO Tawang Nawang Thutan, DHO Koncho Gyatso, DVO Dr Thupten Tashi, CDPO Tawang Dondup Pema, 10 Gram Chairpersons and Chairperson of Khandro Drowa Zangmo Cooperative Society Nawang Chonzom, among others.
