Conrad meets Dhankhar with women's SHG group

Shillong: A 30-member delegation of Self-Help Group (SHG) of women from Meghalaya, backed by the National Rural Livelihoods Mission, visited Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday at his official residence in New Delhi. The group was accompanied by senior officials of the State Rural Livelihoods Society and led by chief minister Conrad K Sangma.

"It was a matter of great honour and encouragement as our SHG members met and interacted with our very welcoming and humble Hon'ble Vice President of India, Sh. Jagdeep Dhankhar ji at his office in New Delhi. Across the state, every SHG member has risen as a beacon of hope and strength in her community. With resilience, hard work, and a deep sense of purpose, these women have shattered barriers and redefined what's possible. They've proven that with the right support, women can lead, uplift, and transform entire communities. Today, these incredible women are not just walking the path, they are lighting the way for others to follow," the CM tweeted.

The CM arranged this visit as part of his continuous efforts to strengthen grassroots women leaders and provide them national-level exposure.

"The V-P lauded Meghalaya's focus on women empowerment, improved nutrition and maternal health and expressed admiration for the growth in women-led development in the state," an official statement said.

"Over the last decade, Meghalaya has witnessed exponential growth in women's participation through SHGs and local governance platforms. From just around 5,000 SHG in 2015, the state now has nearly 52,000 active SHG women. Currently, more than 5.2 Iakh women have been covered under the SHG mission. There has also been an increase in the number of women-led Village Employment Councils (VECs) from 2022-24," the official release read.

"The recent launch of the Pla Tangka Cooperative Society, a women-led apex financial institution, is yet another milestone in Meghalaya's vision for financial inclusion and economic empowerment. These collective efforts are aligned with the broader goals of the State Capability Enhancement Project, which seeks to strengthen human development outcomes by enabling capable, community-rooted leadership at all levels," the statement said.