Jirania (Tripura), May 9 (ANI): Women members elected to the village council in Tripura have taken a lead in paving the way for a large number of poor women to become self-reliant.

This has been made possible by these enterprising women representatives by setting up Self-Help Groups (SHGs), which generate allied productive vocations for the poor families.

In Jirania region of Tripura, several SHGs are in operation providing ample subsistence to the 'have-not' families.

Women who until the other day were just housewives doing domestic chores, are supplementing the family income through their own efforts.

"Our self help group consists of 11 women and right from making incense sticks and packaging to marketing is being done, all by women. Another 200 women work under us and have become self-employed and earn for their families by making incense sticks which are made out of raw natural materials available locally," said Mithu Chakraborty, a member of SHG, Jirania, Tripura.

Although the Self-Help Groups exist only at the village level, the fact is that these women members of the village councils have played a stellar role in empowerment of women and also in poverty alleviation at the grass roots.

Apart from creating varied vocations, the Self-Help Groups have also been active in other spheres such as education, drinking water and community health programmes.

"We are running it very well. I believe because we know better what shall be more beneficial for the women folk like drinking water facility, literacy, health facility. We are keeping these as priority sectors and are developing with mutual help," said Juhlera Khatun, a Panchayat member.

The Self-Help Groups have also been instrumental in the construction of link roads in the villages including building culverts across streams and other rivulets. (ANI)