Diglipur, July 19: The Community Development (CD) Block, Diglipur, under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), has taken a significant step towards strengthening rural livelihoods with the establishment of an Integrated Farming Cluster (IFC) under the Mahila Kisan Sashaktikaran Pariyojana (MKSP). As part of this initiative, a Livelihood Service Centre (LSC) is being established to serve as a hub for production, value addition, capacity building, and market linkage for women farmers and Self-Help Group (SHG) members.
The inaugural programme was graced by Shri M. Rajendra Kumar, Block Development Officer, Diglipur, as the chief guest, along with Shri Shyamol Bhowmik, Pradhan, R.K. Gram Panchayat, and the Pradhan of Subashgram Panchayat as guests of honour. During the event, they emphasized the importance of the LSC in creating sustainable livelihood opportunities, strengthening women-led enterprises, and improving the economic condition of rural households.
The proposed Livelihood Service Centre will function as a one-stop support centre for SHGs by providing technical guidance and capacity building for women farmers; production and value addition facilities for dairy, poultry, and goat-rearing activities; input supply and extension support; a common platform for aggregation, packaging, branding, and marketing of SHG products; and business development services and market linkages with local and institutional buyers.
As part of the IFC initiative, a poultry hatchery will also be established to ensure the regular availability of quality chicks, promote poultry-based livelihoods, and create new income-generating opportunities for SHG members. The LSC will also facilitate training, enterprise development, and access to government convergence schemes, enabling women entrepreneurs to build sustainable and profitable businesses.
The programme witnessed the active participation of the Cluster Coordinator, Data Entry Operator, Community Resource Persons (CRPs), village-level functionaries, and a large number of SHG members, reflecting the community’s commitment to strengthening rural livelihoods through collective action.
The establishment of the Livelihood Service Centre is expected to become a model for integrated livelihood development in Diglipur Block by improving production efficiency, enhancing market access, promoting value addition, and increasing the income of Mahila Kisans under the DAY-NRLM framework.
