Port Blair, March 16: The National Rural Livelihood Mission aims to alleviate rural poverty and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for the rural poor especially for rural women. The basic idea behind this programme is to unite the poor into Self Help Group and make them capable for self-employment.

Smti. Hemlata Bala is one such beneficiaries under the NRLM scheme. A resident of Tugapur of Mayabunder she is associated with a Self Help Group namely Sreemoi. She has joined this SHG for the purpose of initiating self-employment, so that she could support her family financially.

Initially she borrowed a loan of Rs.15, 000/- (Fifteen Thousand) from the SHG and started a poultry farm, subsequently she again borrowed an amount of fifteen thousand to enhance her business. Gradually the business boosted with time and presently Hemlata is also running a petty shop apart from her poultry farm and now she is a successful entrepreneur with earning of Rs.10,000/- per month. She has successfully reimbursed the loan amount of Rs.30,000.

Expressing her gratitude towards Govt. scheme such as NRLM, Hemlata Bala said, “I have fulfilled my dream which would not have been possible if I was not in the SHG group. DAYNRLM has not only paved my way to success but also helped in establishing my identity, self-respect and value for work. I now want to purchase some layer birds and a cow too, which can help me to run my business more successfully.