Sri Vijaya Puram, Feb 01: Shyama Self Help Group (SHG), located in Little Andaman under South Andaman District, has emerged as a beacon of women-led entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihood generation. Established in January 2017, the SHG has been working with the motto of promoting sustainable livelihood opportunities for rural women.
Smt. Gouri Rani Mondal, a dedicated and hardworking member of Shyama SHG, took a commendable initiative to improve her family’s livelihood by setting up a small-scale food processing unit to meet the local demand for essential food products.
Initially, she started a flour mill with a single milling machine, operating on a very small scale. With a vision to expand her enterprise, she availed a loan of Rs. 50,000 from Abhinandan Village Organization, Ramkrishna Pur, Little Andaman. This financial support enabled her to install an additional flour milling engine, significantly enhancing the production capacity of the unit.
Following the expansion, the unit’s production capacity increased to approximately 50–60 kg of flour per day. Raw materials are sourced directly from local customers and villagers, which not only reduces transportation costs but also strengthens community participation and local economic linkages.
At present, Smt. Gouri Rani Mondal is successfully engaged in the processing and production of rice flour, wheat flour, and coconut oil. The enterprise is functioning smoothly and has become a reliable source of income for her family. The unit generates an annual income of Rs. 1,00,000 and above, significantly contributing to her household’s economic stability and enabling her to achieve the status of a “Lakhpati Didi.”
The success story of Smt. Gouri Rani Mondal highlights how timely financial assistance, along with proper guidance and support under NRLM, can transform small initiatives into sustainable livelihood enterprises. Her enterprise stands as a model example of women’s entrepreneurship, self-reliance, and income generation in the rural areas of Little Andaman.