Self Help Group success story in Ukhrul

Ukhrul: A Self Help Group (SHG) in Ukhrul town successfully completed a tour at capital city, Pink city and the city with one of the famous 7 wonders of the world, on October 26, 2022.

Mathuk SHG was formed in 2001 when the Tangkhul Shanao Long (Tangkhul Women Unit) first introduced and encouraged every Tangkhul village to form at least one SHG group.

This SHG was formed by like-minded group of women. They are 20 members in total and their age varies from 35 to 60. The group began with an investment of 20 rupees contributed by each member. They, then loan it out among the members with some interest.

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To keep the group active and well coordinated, meeting was held at least once a month. 5 rupees fine was imposed to the absentees so that everyone would make it to the meeting. With the collected amount and contribution from each member, they would bake sticky rice bread, go on a daily wage labor, organize bazaar day, bring vegetables from their own garden, make fruit candies of gooseberry, wild apple, plum and more and they would sell them. This way they raised their fund and saved money little by little.

Most of the members are illiterate and depend on paddy cultivation, vegetable farming for their livelihood. When they first formed the SHG, most does not even own a rice cooker or proper dinner set but now each members owns rice cooker, set of plates, hot case, shawl, blanket and many more in their raising day. However, the most anticipated reward came when their plan to visit the capital city was successful, after 20 years of planning, in October this year.

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Visiting Delhi was a dream come true and once in a lifetime experience for most of the members. On the first day itself, they visited the famous Taj Mahal in Agra. The following days, they experienced the rich architect, art and culture, and also witness the lives of the royal – in Jantar Mantar, Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal and City Palace, in Jaipur. Back in Delhi, some of them explored 4D movie theatre where some choose to shop in the popular Sarojini Market and most got to spend time with their children living in Delhi.

Moreover, many of them had a personal interest in the only female Prime Minister of India, so they got to relive the memory of the great Indian Lady Politician at The Indra Gandhi Memorial. Besides that, India gate, Qutub Minar, Lotus temple was some of the place they visited.

For the trip, every member was granted 25k from the fund. Few members who could not join the trip due to heath problem were also given 20k each. NEFY Holiday prepared them an exciting itinerary and gave them a good package starting from Ukhrul to Delhi from flight, transport, food and stay at Agra, Jaipur, Delhi and back home.

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“In our society, all the household work is done by women. Most socialization like attending and helping in marriage, attending funeral or any important social programs, even income generation are done by women,” said Wonthing Zimik, member, Mathuk SHG.

Moreover, upbringing of kids is also seen as women’s responsibilities. So exposure like this is vital for everyone, especially women. Mothers and every women needs to see the world around them so that they can teach and tell their kids what is happening around them, she added.

Mathuk SHG is planning to go on a trip to coastal regions, next time. Most of the members have never seen sea or ocean in their life. They hope and wish that they would be able to make it soon, unlike the first trip which took them two decades although it was worth the wait.

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