Navjyoti Self-Help Group: Empowering Women in Rural Himachal Through Skill and Self-Reliance

Mandi, June 1, 2025: In the picturesque village of Sihan, under Gram Panchayat Gaura-Gagal in Himachal Pradesh, a quiet revolution is underway. The Navjyoti Self-Help Group (SHG), led by a dynamic team of women, is transforming lives through traditional skills, government support, and a shared dream of self-reliance.

Women in the group engage in making *badana*, *sepu badi*, tailoring, embroidery, and vermillion production. Their locally crafted products are not just a source of regular income but a symbol of empowerment. With growing demand from markets as far as Shimla, Kangra, Kullu, and even Chandigarh and Dehradun, their story is turning into a beacon of success for others.

Under the leadership of Madhuri Gupta, who motivated hesitant women to step out and learn, the group has gained recognition and even received a ₹15,000 award as the Best SHG. The support from departments like Women and Child Development and the NRLM has helped them with seed capital, marketing aid, and training.

Each woman now earns ₹10,000–12,000 per month, demonstrating how rural entrepreneurship can thrive with proper guidance and willpower. As Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan remarked, such initiatives reflect the real potential of rural women to become key stakeholders in development when given the right support.