News & Announcement
Gangtok District Coordination-cum-Consultation Meeting for Upcoming SHG Bharosa Sammelan 2026
Gangtok, September 7 (IPR): The Sikkim Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) under the Rural Development Department organised a coordination-cum-consultation meeting in preparation for the upcoming SHG Bharosa Sammelan 2026 and the distribution of Grant-in-Aid to 200 Self-Help Groups (SHGs), today at a local hotel in Gangtok.
Chairperson, Public Health Engineering Department, Ms Chumila Bhutia, in her address, highlighted the agenda of the upcoming SHG Bharosa Sammelan 2026 and the proposed distribution of Grant-in-Aid to 200 SHGs. She underscored the importance of unity among Self-Help Groups in strengthening their collective voice and called for further strengthening the SHG network to ensure that its reach extends to every household.
She highlighted that more than 5,500 SHGs, comprising nearly 55,000 women, are actively contributing to financial empowerment, rural entrepreneurship and community governance. She called for further expansion of the network through membership drives and greater participation.
Ms Bhutia also expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Singh Tamang, for empowering SHG members and creating opportunities for their journey towards self-reliance through appointments as Chairpersons and Officers on Special Duty (OSDs), as well as through roles such as Bank Sakhis, Krishi Sakhis and Sahayogi Aamas, alongside various capacity-building and training programmes. She described the Sammelan as an important bridge between the Government and SHGs and emphasised the need to further strengthen and prioritise this partnership.
Officer on Special Duty (Entrepreneurship & Skill Development) to the Chief Minister, Mr Rewaj Chettri, in his address, stated that the meetings are being organised under the directions of the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Singh Tamang. He highlighted the growth and significance of Self-Help Groups in the state and described the organisation of the SHG Bharosa Sammelan as a significant achievement.
He highlighted the tangible and intangible benefits extended to SHGs, including the provision of Grant-in-Aid support under the State Budget. Emphasising the need for continued coordination and consultation, he called for such meetings to be organised once every six months with WDS leaders to further strengthen the SHG network. He also stressed the importance of strengthening SHGs at the grassroots level as a means of supporting economic revival.
Mr Chettri informed that 200 tailoring machines are scheduled to be distributed to beneficiaries on a cluster-wise basis during the forthcoming SHG Bharosa Sammelan. He further stated that Tribal Haats are proposed to be constructed in all six districts under the Social Welfare Department. In this regard, he urged Chairpersons and BDS leaders to expedite consultations to identify suitable locations for their construction.
Under the proposed SHG Bharosa Sammelan 2026, 200 eligible Self-Help Groups are expected to receive Grant-in-Aid support of ₹2 lakh each, subject to the prescribed eligibility and selection criteria. He informed that the proposed selection committee would comprise the Block Project Manager of the respective block, the Chairperson of the respective district, and the Block Development Society President, Secretary and Treasurer of the respective block.
He further clarified that SHGs represented by members of the selection committee would be automatically disqualified from receiving the benefit to ensure transparency and fairness in the selection process.
Mr Chettri also stated that the beneficiaries are being diversified in terms of economic activities and that an SHG must have been operational for a minimum of two years to qualify for the grant. Eligible SHGs must already be engaged in income-generating activities, with the grant intended to support and further expand their existing business activities.
He added that, from 2027 onwards, the selection of beneficiaries is proposed to become increasingly results-oriented, taking into account the success and outcomes of grants provided under the forthcoming SHG Bharosa Sammelan.
He further underscored the importance of effective coordination among SHGs, WDS, BDS, BMMU-SRLM and the Government to build a stronger and more sustainable ecosystem for entrepreneurship, livelihood generation and economic development in the state.
The meeting also featured addresses by BDS President, Gangtok District, Ms Manju Rai; BPM, Gangtok District, Ms Sarita Rai; and WDS Presidents from various wards under Gangtok district. DPM, SMMU, Ms Banu Bhujel, also addressed the gathering. An open discussion and interaction session was subsequently held, during which participants and stakeholders shared their inputs and suggestions for the smooth and effective execution of the upcoming SHG Bharosa Sammelan.
The welcome address was delivered by the Chairperson, Agriculture Department, Ms Lily Rai, while the vote of thanks was proposed by Mr Uttam Kumar Chettri.
The meeting was attended by BDS and WDS/Federation leaders, SRLM-BMMU teams, and members of SHGs from across Gangtok district.
Chairperson, Public Health Engineering Department, Ms Chumila Bhutia, in her address, highlighted the agenda of the upcoming SHG Bharosa Sammelan 2026 and the proposed distribution of Grant-in-Aid to 200 SHGs. She underscored the importance of unity among Self-Help Groups in strengthening their collective voice and called for further strengthening the SHG network to ensure that its reach extends to every household.
She highlighted that more than 5,500 SHGs, comprising nearly 55,000 women, are actively contributing to financial empowerment, rural entrepreneurship and community governance. She called for further expansion of the network through membership drives and greater participation.
Ms Bhutia also expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Singh Tamang, for empowering SHG members and creating opportunities for their journey towards self-reliance through appointments as Chairpersons and Officers on Special Duty (OSDs), as well as through roles such as Bank Sakhis, Krishi Sakhis and Sahayogi Aamas, alongside various capacity-building and training programmes. She described the Sammelan as an important bridge between the Government and SHGs and emphasised the need to further strengthen and prioritise this partnership.
Officer on Special Duty (Entrepreneurship & Skill Development) to the Chief Minister, Mr Rewaj Chettri, in his address, stated that the meetings are being organised under the directions of the Chief Minister, Mr Prem Singh Tamang. He highlighted the growth and significance of Self-Help Groups in the state and described the organisation of the SHG Bharosa Sammelan as a significant achievement.
He highlighted the tangible and intangible benefits extended to SHGs, including the provision of Grant-in-Aid support under the State Budget. Emphasising the need for continued coordination and consultation, he called for such meetings to be organised once every six months with WDS leaders to further strengthen the SHG network. He also stressed the importance of strengthening SHGs at the grassroots level as a means of supporting economic revival.
Mr Chettri informed that 200 tailoring machines are scheduled to be distributed to beneficiaries on a cluster-wise basis during the forthcoming SHG Bharosa Sammelan. He further stated that Tribal Haats are proposed to be constructed in all six districts under the Social Welfare Department. In this regard, he urged Chairpersons and BDS leaders to expedite consultations to identify suitable locations for their construction.
Under the proposed SHG Bharosa Sammelan 2026, 200 eligible Self-Help Groups are expected to receive Grant-in-Aid support of ₹2 lakh each, subject to the prescribed eligibility and selection criteria. He informed that the proposed selection committee would comprise the Block Project Manager of the respective block, the Chairperson of the respective district, and the Block Development Society President, Secretary and Treasurer of the respective block.
He further clarified that SHGs represented by members of the selection committee would be automatically disqualified from receiving the benefit to ensure transparency and fairness in the selection process.
Mr Chettri also stated that the beneficiaries are being diversified in terms of economic activities and that an SHG must have been operational for a minimum of two years to qualify for the grant. Eligible SHGs must already be engaged in income-generating activities, with the grant intended to support and further expand their existing business activities.
He added that, from 2027 onwards, the selection of beneficiaries is proposed to become increasingly results-oriented, taking into account the success and outcomes of grants provided under the forthcoming SHG Bharosa Sammelan.
He further underscored the importance of effective coordination among SHGs, WDS, BDS, BMMU-SRLM and the Government to build a stronger and more sustainable ecosystem for entrepreneurship, livelihood generation and economic development in the state.
The meeting also featured addresses by BDS President, Gangtok District, Ms Manju Rai; BPM, Gangtok District, Ms Sarita Rai; and WDS Presidents from various wards under Gangtok district. DPM, SMMU, Ms Banu Bhujel, also addressed the gathering. An open discussion and interaction session was subsequently held, during which participants and stakeholders shared their inputs and suggestions for the smooth and effective execution of the upcoming SHG Bharosa Sammelan.
The welcome address was delivered by the Chairperson, Agriculture Department, Ms Lily Rai, while the vote of thanks was proposed by Mr Uttam Kumar Chettri.
The meeting was attended by BDS and WDS/Federation leaders, SRLM-BMMU teams, and members of SHGs from across Gangtok district.
