Bhubaneswar: Odisha has revolutionalised the model of Self Helf Groups not only for strengthening women empowerment in the country, but it has also provided a strong platform for a secure livelihood to millions of families as well. Be it sustainable livelihood or providing a business avenue for sustainable development, many such examples or case studies are available from the nook and corner of the State where SHG members have been able to stand up with their own or set an example for others to follow exemplary deeds.
A path breaking initiative is being taken up in Odisha which is going to have a tremendous impact on the health of rural and urban populace. The innovative model which will not only meet the nutritional needs of children and pregnant women, it will also open up new business avenues to for the SHG members particularly the women.
Recognizing the role of fisheries and aquaculture, the Naveen Patnaik Government has roped in WorldFish, an international organization for scaling up of nutrition-sensitive fish-agri food systems in the state specially among SHG groups.
A practical roadmap has been drawn with a vision to provide added nutritional value in the diets of the children, adolescent girls and lactating women across the state by inclusion of fish and fish based products in government sponsored ICDS Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP). There are also plans in place to empowering women through a slew of income generating activities for the Women Self Help Groups (WSHGs), including fish farming in Gram Panchayat tanks.
Adding Nutrition to Diet
The Government is planning to provide fish under the Supplementary Nutritional Programme (SNP) to 16,13,775 children in the age group of 3-6 years, 22,45,370 adolescent girls and 7,19,379 pregnant and lactating women across the state.
Adolescent girls and pregnant women will be given dried small fish as part of take-home ration. The fish powder and dried fish would be sourced from Central Institute of Fisheries Technology, Cochin. Small fish like anchovy, Indian Sardine and lesser sardine would be given to the beneficiaries in powder form or in packets after being dried.
Ten women self-help groups from tribal districts have been roped in for for providing training on preparation of fish powder with the help of the Central Institute of Fisheries Technology.
The mission is to make Odisha free from malnutrition by adding fish based products in the diet and at the same time provide new business avenues and sustainable development opportunities to the SHG groups. There are also efforts going on to find through research on the scientific evidences of benefits of fish consumption on human nutrition and health on a regular basis, she added.
Right now Odisha Government is providing take home ration such as chhatua, dry ration and eggs to children between six months to three years. Also, hot cooked meals, including 5 egg based ones, to the children between 3-6 years and take home ration (chhatua & ladoos/chikkis) and eggs to pregnant and nursing women are provided through a robust network of 72,587 Anganwadi Centres (AWCs). Out of school adolescent girls between 11-14 years are also provided Take Home Ration (chhatua & ladoos/chikkis) and eggs under the Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG).
New Business Avenues to SHGS
The Government has also decided to impart training and empower 6000 Women Self Help Groups (WSHGs) involving 60,000 women in nutrition-sensitive fish production systems in Gram Panchayat tanks.
Besides, the Government has also put up a plan to provide training and empower 10 WSHGs involving 100 women for fish processing (cleaning and dressing the fresh fish from fish tanks, hygienic solar drying of the small indigenous species of fish from wild catch) through small-scale home industry set-up (producer groups) and linking them to the market for sustainable livelihood source.
The Government has also roped in WorldFish to commercially produce fish based products from small indigenous species by implementing the government approved food safety standards and market it in domestic market.
The SHG groups have also expressed happiness over the Government’s initiatives to provide new business and livelihood opportunity. “We welcome Government’s initiatives for providing training on various activities of pisciculture and making fish based food products. It will definitely enhance our income,” said Maa Bahairabi SHG group members of Chatrapur, Ganjam.
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