Barihat: Government officials, financial institutions, development agencies and beneficiary groups came together in Barihat on Thursday to discuss livelihood promotion, entrepreneurship development and financial inclusion under the Aadhar Kishori Kalyan Skilling Project (AKSP).
The stakeholders’ meeting, organised by Grameen Sahara at Hotel Gatisco Agro Farm, brought together representatives from government departments, the Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ASRLM), NGOs, financial institutions and project beneficiaries to review the progress of the initiative and explore future collaboration opportunities.
Addressing the gathering, Amiya K. Das, Project Lead of Grameen Sahara, welcomed participants and highlighted the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships in strengthening livelihood opportunities for rural communities.
During the meeting, Juktashre Saikia, Project Manager of Grameen Sahara, presented the objectives and achievements of the AHFL-AKSP project.
She outlined various interventions undertaken under the programme, including livelihood promotion, skill development, entrepreneurship support, market linkage facilitation and financial inclusion initiatives for handloom weavers and spice cultivators.
Several officials and experts from government departments and development organisations attended the programme. Among them were representatives from the Handloom Department, officials from the Spice Board, agricultural scientists, ASRLM representatives and development finance professionals.
Speakers stressed the need for stronger convergence between government schemes, financial institutions and grassroots organisations to improve livelihood opportunities in rural areas.
They also discussed the importance of entrepreneurship development, access to credit, technical support and market linkages for ensuring sustainable income generation among beneficiary groups.
A panel discussion involving representatives from government departments, NGOs, financial institutions and ASRLM focused on credit linkage opportunities, entrepreneurship promotion and strategies for expanding support to rural producers.
The meeting also provided a platform for Community Resource Persons (CRPs) and beneficiaries to share their experiences under the project. Several participants spoke about improvements in their livelihoods through training programmes, capacity-building initiatives and support received for income-generating activities.
Officials attending the event appreciated the efforts of Grameen Sahara in working with handloom weavers and spice cultivators and emphasised the need to further strengthen market access and financial support mechanisms for rural entrepreneurs.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks from Padmaram Das, Project Executive of Grameen Sahara, who thanked participants and stakeholders for their cooperation and engagement.
The Aadhar Kishori Kalyan Skilling Project is aimed at promoting sustainable livelihoods, entrepreneurship and financial inclusion among rural communities through capacity-building, skill development and market-oriented interventions.
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