Livelihood Activities Through Self Help Groups program
HLDRC has been making significant strides in empowering women of tea garden in the three districts of North Bengal region (Terai & Dooars), helping them forming Self Help Groups and giving them livelihood support through agricultural activities, small business undertaking, animal farming, kitchen garden and micro business through mushroom cultivation. This program has been running since 2013 in Terai and 2014 in Dooars region, with the support of Canadian Jesuits International (CJI). Initially, HLDRC began its work with five SHGs for marginalized women of the tea garden region, but it has now expanded its support to a total of 202 SHGs from both Terai & Dooars regions of North Bengal. As a result HLDRC has been instrumental in providing valuable skills through training and capacity-building programs, enabling them to embark on new ventures. Since 2013 HLDRC played a significant role in supporting the progress of 61 SHGs by providing livelihood support through a small fund of Rs. 20,000 to each SHG. Women are previously confined to household chores and plucking leaves in the garden, but ever since the formation of SHG, these women started coming out of their houses, going to Gram Panchayat, bank and block office. These women have gained a lot of information and knowledge from the SHGs which has contributed to their success.
Yearly intervention of HLDRC in Terai Region:
| Year | No. of group added |
| 2013-2014 | 05 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 27 |
| 2017 | 18 |
| 2018 | 34 |
| 2019 | 32 |
| 2020 | – |
| 2021 | 06 |
| 2022 | – |
| 2023 | 07 |
| Total | 142 |
Yearly intervention of HLDRC in Dooars Region:
| Year | No. of group added |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2022 | 16 |
| Total | 60 |
HLDRC is dedicated to empower women through sustainable development. It aims to form a women’s federation, which will facilitate greater participation in decision making processes related to tea garden wages, social security and women’s involvement in Indian electoral practices.
