Sanjeevini self-help groups in Udupi district are emerging as a practical model for rural women’s economic empowerment, local leaders said at a progress review meeting in Manipal on 2 January. The meeting, held in the Dr V S Acharya hall at the District Panchayat complex, was chaired by Byndoor MLA Gururaj Shetty Guntihole.
Sanjeevini self-help groups deliver credit and enterprise opportunities
Speaking at the review, Mr Shetty Guntihole noted that women affiliated to the Sanjeevini network have already begun running self-employment activities after accessing community capital funds, bank loans and departmental credit facilities. He said the initiative should serve as a model for other villages and urged every Sanjeevini group to explore entrepreneurial opportunities using local resources.
“Women must be represented across agriculture, non-farm businesses and tourism,” he said. “Local employment opportunities for women will help reduce out-migration caused by unemployment.”
The meeting underlined the importance of developing systems that generate work for women within their own communities. Village-level festivals are being organised across gram panchayats, and the Sanjeevini groups are encouraged to participate actively and take full advantage of the benefits on offer.
One of the concrete market-access measures discussed is a plan to establish 100 sales stalls for Sanjeevini products at the Byndoor festival. Organisers expect the stalls to connect producers directly with consumers and help scale successful micro-enterprises.
Participants at the review included senior district and project officials, bank representatives and field-level functionaries. Present were District Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Prateek Bhayal, Deputy Secretary Shyam S. Kadrolli, Project Director Vijay Kumar, retired State Programme Manager Ali, Lead Bank Manager Harish, Assistant Director of Agriculture Satish, Assistant Director of Horticulture Hemant Kumar, District Programme Manager Navya, district managers Avinash and Saumya, campaign unit staff, Grama Panchayat-level Sanjeevini union presidents, Krishi Sakhis, Pashu Sakhis and others.
Officials highlighted that access to formal credit and institutional support has enabled many women to formalise small enterprises. Community capital funds serve as seed capital, while bank loans and departmental schemes help expand operations, buy inputs and invest in equipment.
Project managers emphasised training, market linkages and value-chain support as next priorities. They recommended focused interventions in high-potential areas such as agro-processing, horticulture, handicrafts and village tourism. By strengthening these value chains, the Sanjeevini groups can increase incomes and create more stable local jobs.
Mr Shetty Guntihole called for a sustained push to ensure Sanjeevini groups are not only beneficiaries but organisers of local development activities. He said that with market access and continued institutional support, the groups should be capable of running community programmes independently in the medium term.
The meeting concluded with a commitment from officials and bank partners to support the planned market initiatives and to scale training and credit facilitation across rural panchayats. Stakeholders agreed that improving local employment opportunities for women will contribute to broader rural resilience and reduce pressure on urban migration.
Key Takeaways:
- Sanjeevini self-help groups are enabling rural women in Udupi to access community funds, bank loans and departmental credit to start businesses.
- Byndoor MLA Gururaj Shetty Guntihole urged each village group to use local resources to become entrepreneurs across agriculture, tourism and non-farm sectors.
- Organisers aim to establish 100 sales stalls at the Byndoor festival to provide market access for Sanjeevini products.
