Lifeline: A success story

Give man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.

Getting  it Ready

A Self Help Group (SHG) called Lifeline of Yazali block in Lower Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh is literary making it happen.  

Formed with the objectives of empowering women, inculcating the habit of saving and offering sustainable interventions, Lifeline is getting the benefits of an initiative facilitated by the North East Initiative Development Agency (NEIDA), an associate organization of Tata Trusts motivating more women to form SHGs.

Registered under the Societies Registration Act, 2012, the NEIDA has been implementing the Integrated Promotion of Livelihood in Arunachal Pradesh Phase-I project since July 2015 primarily focusing on finding innovative ways to improve the livelihood of rural farmers through enhancing productivity of existing livelihood-based activities. It mostly focuses on: Livestock - piggery promotion, Stabilizing land use systems through horticulture and agriculture development and Forest-based livelihood.  Before getting assistance from NEIDA, the members’ financial condition was very poor. Their main source of income and livelihood used to be agriculture. But the lack of technical aspects of farming resulted insufficient yielding and their financial condition still remained the same and needed alternatives.

                                                                        Feeding 

However, these women came in touch with the NEIDA and formed Lifeline SHG. Initially, when the field coordinator informed them about theNEIDA’s initiatives, they were apprehensive. When told about the benefits they would get, they were convinced and welcomed the assistance. Now, the Lifeline is one of the most popular groups in the locality.

Lifeline began its journey with a collection of Rs 50 from each of the group’s members for maintaining their micro-finance. Later, the amount was doubled and started collecting Rs 100 per head, which was increased to Rs 500 and then Rs 1000 per head. At present it collects Rs 1200 from each member.

Sharing their success story, Lifeline’s president Mrs Pill Yall informed that facilitation given by NEIDA changed their fate and improved their financial status.

Pig rearing being an important for promoting rural livelihood and poverty alleviation in the region, the members of Lifeline were provided scientific knowledge on piggery and trained them to set up proper pigsties; take care of the animals. They were also provided exposure tours.

Healthy Pigs

To start with each member was given two piglets. They reared their piglets with dedication and sincerity. These women earn good price after selling each matured pig during. Sale of each matured pig earns around Rs 14,000. Piggery has boosted their economic condition. Lifeline’s annual income has also gone high improving financial condition of each member. The women are happy with their annual income. In fact, the group has decided to expand the piggery units by constructing additional pigsties. These women take care of their pigs and even treat their sick pigs by applying the knowledge they acquired from training.

Besides piggery, the NEIDA also encouraged the members to practice scientific methods of agriculture.  Practice of scientific way of agriculture has resulted better yielding boosting their morale.

At Work !!

They mostly cultivate and grow maize and paddy besides growing tapioca, colocasia and other vegetables. Purchasing of fodder and silage for the pigs has come  down as they mostly use agricultural products and wastes as fodder and manure respectively.

Colocasia Used  as Fodder !!!

Focusing on the concept and role of SHGs, the members practise inter-lending of funds; book and record-keeping and micro-finance giving a big relief in times of emergencies and developing a better understanding of a wide range of issues bringing a positive change in their thinking and behaviour. They have become more independent both socially and economically.

Members of   Lifeline with  NEIDA's  Officials

Now, more women have started to come for seeking their assistance and suggestions. Lifeline’s success story demonstrates that they have been able to implement all the inputs and initiatives provided by the NEIDA.

Each member is now more empowered, more confident and more positive. They have set an example in the area by improving the quality of life, making women self-sufficient, and bringing brighter smiles to their faces.