SRINAGAR: A four-day regional workshop on the National Supportive Supervision Framework (NSSF) began in Srinagar on Monday, bringing together officials and representatives of State Rural Livelihoods Missions from six states and Union Territories to discuss strengthening women-led community institutions.
The workshop is being hosted by the Jammu and Kashmir Rural Livelihoods Mission (JKRLM) under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM).
Amit Shukla, Joint Secretary (Rural Livelihoods-I), Ministry of Rural Development, inaugurated the programme virtually. According to officials, he stressed the need to focus on strengthening and maturing community institutions and outlined a goal of developing 5,000 self-reliant Swawalambi Cluster Level Federations (CLFs) across blocks by 2031.
Dr Monika B, Deputy Secretary, Rural Livelihoods, said CLFs should evolve into self-sustaining institutions capable of developing leadership and mobilising resources independently.
Raman Wadhwa, Deputy Director, DAY-NRLM, highlighted the role of CLFs in implementing the SHE LIFE programme and said their grassroots presence could help translate policy initiatives into community-level action.
Welcoming participants, JKRLM Mission Director Dr Shubhra Sharma said the workshop would provide an opportunity for collective learning, exchange of experiences and discussions on effective implementation of the NSSF.
Officials said the framework focuses on strengthening Cluster Level Federations through supportive supervision in areas such as governance, human resources, financial sustainability, member outcomes and social empowerment, with the objective of helping them become autonomous institutions.
The inaugural session also featured a documentary showcasing JKRLM’s work in women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship and livelihood promotion.
The workshop will include technical sessions by national-level experts on strengthening linkages among self-help groups, village organisations, producer groups, farmer producer organisations (FPOs), government departments and markets.
Participants from Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are attending the workshop.
