Income Generation Support Programme to Women in Parsa District (IGSP)

AHTCS, in partnership with Sansthagat Bikash Sanjal, endorsed the Income Generation Support Programme to Women (IGSP) from 2012 to 2013. The project aimed to address and uplift the marginalized women in equine rearing communities and sought to improve their socioeconomic status. Women are often restricted to household chores and their engagement in income generation avenues is barely evident, especially in remote communities of Terai region, and have limited involvement in the decision-making process. The initiative succeeded to reach and bring positive impacts in the lives of women of equine owning communities in Bara and Parsa districts. Women groups were formed providing sharing and learning platforms, and enabling them to develop confidence to voice their collective concerns. Monthly group savings and credit mobilization has provided them the option to burrow loan at affordable rates to meet their personal and business needs. Various livestock specific income generation trainings (goat, swine and poultry enterprise training) presented diverse income generation opportunities for the group members allowing them to break free from the financial hardships and exert a meaningful presence in the family as well as respective communities. The groups are well recognized by the government and non-government institutions, are included in plans and policies and group members continue to enjoy the relevant services and schemes. Further, orientation workshops on domestic conflict management has empowered women to effectively resolve the household differences without disrupting the family dynamics while at the same time strengthening their roles within families and communities.

Overall, IGSP not only addressed the immediate needs but also fostered the sustainable women empowerment through their promotion in the income generation ventures as well as greater involvement in the decision-making process.