DAY-NRLM Workshop Empowers Rural Women Collectives
The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), under the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India, in partnership with the State Rural Livelihoods Mission (SRLM) Meghalaya, organized a pivotal two-day Regional Workshop titled “Sangathan, Swasthya, Samriddhi: Women Collective’s Action on Food, Nutrition, Health & WASH (FNHW)” on June 30 and July 1, 2025, in Shillong, Meghalaya. This significant event brought together grassroots champions, policymakers, and sector experts to strengthen SHG-led FNHW interventions, drive cross-state learning, and highlight community-powered solutions from across India.
The workshop focused on integrating FNHW into the DAY-NRLM framework by fostering convergence among various stakeholders including government departments, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and the SHG ecosystem. With representation from 16 states—Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, West Bengal, and Meghalaya—the event became a vibrant platform for knowledge sharing and strategy co-creation.
The inaugural day was marked by immersive field visits to Laitkroh and Bholaganj Blocks in East Khasi Hills District. Delegates met with SHGs, Cluster Level Federations (CLFs), and Community Gender & Health Activists (CGHAs) who are at the forefront of leading health, nutrition, and livelihood transformations in their regions. Observations included SHG-managed transit homes promoting institutional deliveries, Agri-Nutrition Gardens maintained by women collectives, baby shower ceremonies advocating maternal care, and interactions with ‘Lakhpati Didis’—women who have achieved economic self-reliance through diverse livelihood activities.
The second day of the workshop featured a high-powered inaugural session attended by dignitaries including Shri N.N. Sinha (Former Secretary, Government of India), Smt. Smriti Sharan (Joint Secretary, MoRD), Shri Ramakrishna Chitturi (CEO, SRLM Meghalaya), and Shri Sibhy C. Sadhu (Director, C&RD Meghalaya). A notable highlight was the launch of a uniform for CGHAs—symbolizing a shared identity, visibility, and the growing recognition of their critical role in rural health transformation.
Smt. Smriti Sharan lauded the CGHAs as “warriors in purple capes” for their contributions to maternal and child health. She emphasized the need for clarity in frontline roles, institutional convergence, and upscaling FNHW interventions to benefit more rural families. Shri N.N. Sinha urged for a shift in developmental priorities—from mere infrastructure to a more human-centric approach. He praised SHGs as vital agents of behavioural change and called for sustained investments in preventive healthcare, especially for the most marginalized.
The workshop showcased exemplary models of FNHW integration:
- Assam: Shri Kuntal Moni Sarmah Bordoloi shared the state’s Dasasutra framework, emphasizing SHG-led capacity building, behaviour change communication, and convergence. Innovations such as tobacco-free village drives, matka incinerators, and breastfeeding corners were credited with achieving an 88% reduction in child marriages and a 33% drop in maternal mortality.
- Meghalaya: Shri Ramakrishna Chitturi highlighted how the state, once in crisis, turned around through community-led initiatives such as SHG-run transit homes and VO-managed Village Resource Funds (VRFs), resulting in a 91% decline in Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) cases.
- East Khasi Hills: Deputy Commissioner Smti. Rosetta Mary Kurbah shared the district’s approach—establishing breastfeeding huts, SHG-managed crèches, and nutrition gardens, which significantly improved maternal and child health indicators.
A dedicated session explored the emerging need for elderly care in rural India. HelpAge India presented a community-based pyramid model using Elderly SHGs, mobile health units, and telemedicine solutions. Kerala’s SRLM shared Kudumbashree’s innovative programs like K4 Care, Saantwanam, and BUDS institutions, demonstrating how care economy models can create dignified jobs and support the intellectually disabled. The STRIDE program, focused on assistive technology development, added to Kerala’s commitment to inclusive health.
Learning Exchange and Future ActionAn exhibition of FNHW innovations showcased IEC materials, community practices, and SHG-made products. Curated and presented by CRPs and SHG leaders, it enabled delegates from different states to engage in cross-learning and inspired replication of successful models.
The SRLM panel emphasized that embedding FNHW in SHG-led economic activity ensures not just income but holistic well-being. CRPs shared stories of raising awareness through school campaigns, promoting VHSNCs (Village Health Sanitation & Nutrition Committees), and establishing home nutrition gardens. Their efforts are reshaping rural health landscapes, enhancing service uptake, and strengthening community resilience.
The workshop concluded with deliberations on an action plan emerging from the National Conclave on FNHW 2024, reinforcing the urgency of integrating food, health, nutrition, and WASH goals into institutional and community planning. States such as Kerala and Assam stood out for their evidence-based, scalable models.
ConclusionThe “Sangathan, Swasthya, Samriddhi” workshop reinforced the transformative potential of SHGs as community anchors for health, nutrition, and social change. Through collective action, convergence, and committed leadership at all levels, India’s rural landscape is inching closer to a healthier, more equitable future. As the nation strives toward Viksit Bharat by 2047, initiatives like these exemplify how localized, women-led models can drive inclusive growth and enduring change.