She congratulated SHG members for their efforts in making a positive difference in their lives and community

Director General of World Trade Organisation Dr Naozi Okonjo-Iweala, who is on a three-day visit to India, on Friday interacted with the officials of the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) and women of Self-Help Group (SHG) promoted under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).

During interaction, the WTO Director General enquired SHG members about their areas of work, experience of joining SHG, how it has impacted them economically and socially and how SHGs addressed challenges imposed by the disease outbreak, the Ministry of Rural Development said in a statement.

The SHG members shared their experience of working with SHG and informed that their economic and social situation has improved and now they are able to take care of their families, children and themselves better, the Ministry said.

They informed about their work such as disbursement of money at the door step during the COVID-19, supporting SHG households in setting up of the Agri-Nutrition Garden, promoting Agro-Ecological practices, setting up of enterprises like soap, sanitizer making, spices and awareness generation on COVID-19 appropriate behaviours, addressing COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in the community, distribution of free dry rations and cooked food to the vulnerable section of the society.

DG, WTO congratulated SHG members for their efforts in making a positive difference in their lives and community, the Ministry said.

She specially appreciated initiatives taken by the SHG members during the pandemic and wished them well in their future endeavours, the Ministry added.

Earlier, Charanjit Singh, Joint Secretary, MoRD led the discussions and Raghvendra Pratap Singh, Director, MoRD and a team of thematic experts from the National Mission Management Unit, DAY-NRLM, MoRD attended the meeting.

Brajendra Navnit, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India to the WTO Geneva, Switzerland and Abhimaniu Sharma, DOC, Ministry of Commerce participated in the meeting.

Charanjit Singh presented an overview of DAY-NRLM components and activities conducted by the SHGs during the COVID-19 outbreak. DG, WTO also interacted virtually with Rambeti Sen, Master Krishi Sakhi of Vishwanath SHG from Madhya Pradesh, Sushma Devi, BC Sakhi of Durga SHG from Bihar, Jamuna, President of Krishna Bhagwan CLF and Jai Chamunda SHG from Madhya Pradesh, Sujatha Unnikrishnan Secretary of Vismaya SHG from Kerala and Nandini Devi, Entrepreneur of Ma Gayatri SHG from Jharkhand.