Shillong, Dec 1: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Monday inaugurated the 6th Meghalaya Saras Aajeevika Fair 2025 at U Soso Tham Auditorium, highlighting the event as a celebration of the “quiet revolution” being driven by rural women across the state. Rural Development Minister Sosthenes Sohtun and other dignitaries were present at the ceremony.
Calling the women-led Self-Help Group (SHG) movement one of Meghalaya’s most transformative community-driven programmes, Sangma said the initiative is reshaping village economies by blending hard work with cultural identity. “The SHG movement is not just about economic growth—it is about the women behind it, their resilience, and the opportunities they are creating for themselves and others,” he said.
Reflecting on Meghalaya’s journey from high maternal mortality rates to a thriving SHG network of 55,000 groups, the Chief Minister said the movement was born out of a need to address deep-rooted social challenges.
He noted that the government moved beyond scheme-based governance to focus on nutrition, family planning, livelihoods and women’s empowerment—steps that helped SHGs evolve into a powerful grassroots institution. “The movement started with a mission to save mothers’ lives. But it grew because women were empowered economically and socially,” Sangma added.
Sangma highlighted that Meghalaya is today the second fastest-growing economy in the country, crediting this rise not just to capital investment and government spending but to the surge in grassroots enterprise.
“SHGs have contributed meaningfully to Meghalaya’s economic growth story. With their strong institutional networks, they have become transformational forces,” he said.
He emphasized the need to strengthen the SHG institutional framework further and scale up entrepreneurship opportunities so women-led groups can play an even bigger role in shaping the state’s economic future.
Chief Minister and other dignitaries also felicitated community cadres and gave awards to village organisations supporting ICDS programs where there are no aganwadi centres and VOs that have set up Transit Homes for pregnant women. Certificates for 15 volunteers who have shown dedication in the Har Ghar Tiiranga Campaign were also given.
Distribution of 15 Micro ATMS in collaboration with Meghalaya Rural Bank to Business correspondents, handing of loan cheques to SHGS in partnership with MRB, distribution of Cold Chain Boxes to Pashu Sakhis, the community cadres, state launch of Nayi Chetna, the national gender equality and women empowerment and launches of 50 Integrated Farming Clusters of Rs 20 Crs, Lumlang Marketing Federation and the 6th Saras Aajeevilka Fair 2025 were other highlights of the event.
More than 60 SHGs and rural entrepreneurs, including participants from outside Meghalaya, showcased their products.
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