Mission Director Jammu & Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM), Dr. Syed Sehrish Asgar today convened a virtual meeting with all the officials of Umeed and members of India SME Forum to discuss the progress made under programme SAATH.The meeting was attended by District Programme Managers, Block programme Managers, Vinod Kumar (President India SME Forum), Sushama Morthani (Director General India SME Forum) and other officials of the Mission.On the occasion, Dr Sehrish asked the officials that a lot of effort has been invested on part of JKRLM to strategize, evolve and roll out this programme. She enjoined upon the District programme officials of the Mission to involve the selected SHG members under the training programme for all the sessions and take full advantage of the programme so that they have complete awareness about the business plans.Dr Sehrish maintained that the training shall encompass a generic workshop for all the sectors in which orientation has been provided on different types of Registrations like Goods and Services Taxes (GST), Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and also on boarding of the various SHG products on different marketing sites.
She impressed upon the DPMs that the selected SHG should be facilitated with all the possible support at the block level for the smooth conduct of the training and take regular feedback from the participants to assess their improvement on the subject.Dr Sehrish stated that the “SAATH” initiative is a rural enterprise acceleration programme for the Self Help Group (SHG) Women in Jammu and Kashmir. Under the programme, the Mission would create business leaders amongst the women SHG members through skilling and marketing linkages.Director General India SME Forum, Sushma Morthania informed the chair that the first phase of the training was completed where more than 5000 SHGs across Jammu and Kashmir participated. During the workshop the SHG members had been further profiled based on their trade activity. Subsequently focused training will be provided sector wise. The major focus shall be on textiles and handloom, Handicraft, Agro, Dairy and food processing, she added. She further said that India SME Forum will facilitate on boarding of rural enterprises on “SAHELI” platform of Amazon Where in the SHG members promoted under Umeed can showcase their products online and boost their sales.