Date: 8 July – 15 July 2024: The Centre for Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality (CWEGE) organised a 5-day Training of Trainers (TOT) program in Sarai Nooruddinpur, Uttar Pradesh in partnership with National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM)  and Amrita University’s COVID Community Resilience Resource Centre (CCRRC) program. The training brought together 30 SHG women and village leaders to discuss the steps needed to start small businesses. By the end of the training, 27 women had signed up for vocational training in:

• Artificial jewelry making
• Plate manufacturing
• Candles and incense production

   

The women plan to begin formal training after the harvest season. A follow-up meeting with NRLM Block Mission Managers Mamta Devi, Manjula Devi and Savitha highlighted two key areas: market linkages and access to funds. Officials confirmed that village-level federations have funds available, and the final training plans will be confirmed in September 2024. With this milestone, the women of Sarai Nooruddinpur are one step closer to building a brighter, self-reliant future. 

This initiative reflects CWEGE’s ongoing mission to nurture women as agents of change in their communities. By equipping SHG members with entrepreneurial skills, facilitating access to government schemes, and enabling collaboration with institutions like NRLM, the TOT program in Sarai Nooruddinpur is building foundational capacity for economic empowerment. This not only strengthens household-level resilience but also contributes to broader gender equity goals by positioning rural women as earners and innovators in their local economy.