Jammu Administration Backs New Initiative to Strengthen Women's Self-Help Groups

By: WE staff | Friday, 22 August 2025

• Jammu district government has provided assistance to a new program for empowering women self-help groups (SHGs)
• The project is designed by Anmol Rathore with funding support of Rs 2 lakh
• It will expand production of organic soaps and fragrant organic candles

Jammu district administration has come forward to support a new project of empowering women self-help groups (SHGs) in the district.

Brainchild of Anmol Rathore with a financial support of ₹2 lakh from Centre for Cooperatives and Livelihoods, LBSNAA, Mussoorie, the project aims at scaling up the business of organic soap-making and scented candles by a women-managed SHG of Chak Majra, a border village of Jammu.

The program is an indication of both the strength and economic independence of rural women and is coordinated by Owais, District Programme Manager, JKRLM, and Sheetal Mankotia, BPM Bishnah.

During the course of the programme, the SHG, which was headed by Asha Devi and was involved in soap, candle, and diya manufacturing, showcased their working model and in-progress work to Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Dr. Rakesh Minhas, and Assistant Commissioner (UT), Anmol Rathore.

The Deputy Commissioner commended the efforts of the group, promised continued encouragement to such initiatives, and underscored the provision of continuous handholding assistance to this SHG as well as to others to achieve long-term growth and sustainability.

Women's Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are local collectives of women that come together with the aim of empowering women economically, supporting each other, and achieving financial independence, mostly in rural and semi-urban locales.

Comprising 10–20 members, SHGs help women club their savings and get loans collectively, allowing them to begin small enterprises, invest in income-generation schemes, and cover household expenses without approaching moneylenders from outside their community.