The COO-Program interacting with SHG members during the field visit.
Dimapur, October 9 (MExN): Chief Operating Officer (COO-Program) Nagaland State Rural Livelihoods Mission under Rural Development Department, Rollan Lotha visited Mopungchuket village under RD block Kubolong on October 3 and five villages of Longkhum, Mangmetong, Aliba and Khensa under RD block Ongpangkong South on October 6 along with the ADPM Mokokchung, Moatoshi, BPM Ongpangkong south Imkongtoshi, and Block staff.
The COO-Program inspected the Shitake mushroom cultivation which was taken up as an income generating activity by the NSRLM supported Self Help Groups (SHG) within the Block. Shitake cultivation is yet at a nascent stage for mass production and consumption with huge market potential at both domestic and international markets. He encouraged the block to form a producers group and to maintain consistency in its production, a press release stated.
The official also visited weaving units, poultry units, tailoring units and a tea stall business which were taken up by SHG members after taking Community Investment Fund (CIF) Loans from the Village Level Organization (VLO) of their respective villages. Motivating the efforts of the SHG members, the COO urged upon them to think beyond subsidies as Naga people’s dependence and expectations of such grants are crippling their very own environment for healthy growth of the activities and businesses they take up, the release stated.
Acknowledging the sincerity of the block staff, he further encouraged the livelihoods staff to strengthen on documentation of all the livelihoods activities taken up by the SHGs and form producers groups to achieve local self-sufficiency. He pressed upon continuity of hand holding support and nurturing of the SHGs which is a core quality a NSRLM staff imbibes, the release stated.
