SHG leaders step into governance as Sikkim empowers grassroots women

ISABELLA GURUNG

GANGTOK, : The 12 Self-Help Group (SHG) leaders recently appointed as chairpersons and Officers on Special Duty (OSD) in the Government of Sikkim expressed their gratitude to Chief Minister PS Golay and the State government at a press conference held here on Wednesday.

Sikkim has become the first State in the country to appoint 11 women from SHGs as chairpersons of various departments and one as an OSD.These positions were filled through a democratic selection process conducted by SHG members themselves.

Chairperson ChumilaBhutia shared that CM Golay had made a historic announcement during the SHG Bharosa Sammelan held at Jorethang in March 2024, stating that chairpersons and OSDs would be appointed from SHGs across all six districts.

“With over 5,500 SHGs comprising nearly 55,000 women in the State, this is the first time in India that grassroots SHG members have been formally integrated into the administrative machinery at such levels. Through these appointments, the State government has given more respect and responsibility to women. The 12 of us appointed today represent the 55,000 women belonging to various SHGs. Since the Sikkim KrantikariMorcha (SKM) government came to power, the women of Sikkim have become financially independent, and the SHGs are now creating a strong network not just within Sikkim but globally,” said Chumila.

Bhutia further added that the primary aim of SHGs is to foster financial independence and self-reliance among women, helping them gain confidence.

Chairperson Lilly Rai highlighted that 80 percent of women in Sikkim are financially independent, and SHGs are working toward making women atmanirbhar (self-reliant), aligning with the State government’s vision of a “Sunaulo, Samriddhi, and Samartha Sikkim”.

The 12 appointed chairpersons and the OSD collectively expressed their appreciation to the State government and the Sikkim Rural Livelihood Mission (SRLM) department.

This move is part of the State government’s broader commitment to women’s empowerment. Sikkim already boasts significant female representation, including three MLAs, a woman Deputy Speaker, a woman Deputy Mayor in Gangtok, and several women serving as chairpersons, Advisors, OSDs, and secretaries across departments.

The initiative complements other pro-women policies of the State government such as the AamaYojana, VatsalyaYojana, andBainiYojana, which address the needs of women at all stages of life.

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Chairpersons and OSDs for various departments includes:

Ongkit Lepcha (Horticulture Department)

ChumilaBhutia (Public Health Engineering Department – PHE)

Lilly Rai (Agriculture Department)

NimChiki Sherpa (Commerce and Industries Department)

BidyaBiswakarma (Cooperation Department)

Khus Maya Tamang (Water Resources Department)

Kala Pradhan (Department of Food Processing Industries)

Doma Lepcha (Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services Department)

Shanti Limboo (Sikkim Consumer Cooperative Society)

MingmaLhamu Sherpa (Capacity Building, Skill Development Training, Placement, Youth Empowerment and Self-Reliant Board)

AnuradhaGurung (Fisheries Department)

Indra Kala Chettri (OSD to the Department of Panchayati Raj)