LRLM conducts financial inclusion, livelihood awareness Programme at Kaksar Panchayat

KARGIL: The Block Mission Management Unit (BMMU), Kargil Block, under the Ladakh Rural Livelihood Mission (LRLM), on Saturday organised an awareness, social mobilisation and financial inclusion programme at Kaksar Panchayat, focusing on strengthening Self Help Groups (SHGs), promoting financial literacy and expanding livelihood opportunities for rural communities.

The programme brought together SHG members, Village Organisation leaders, Community Mobilisers, Bank Sakhis, Bima Sakhis, Krishi Sakhis and officials of the BMMU to deliberate on financial inclusion, institutional strengthening and sustainable rural development.

Delivering the welcome address, Habibullah Rizvani, Block Programme Manager, LRLM Kargil Block, outlined the objectives of the initiative, highlighting the mission’s role in strengthening community institutions, promoting sustainable livelihoods, improving financial inclusion and advancing the economic empowerment of rural women through Self Help Groups.

The keynote session was delivered by Tsering Morup, Lead District Manager, Kargil, who stressed the importance of financial inclusion, digital banking, cyber security, responsible banking practices and SHG-bank credit linkage. He also briefed participants on government-backed financial schemes and insurance services, urging SHG members to make greater use of formal banking channels while remaining alert to cyber fraud and digital financial risks.

Representing the Rural Self Employment Training Institute (RSETI), Mohd Ali introduced participants to skill development, entrepreneurship and self-employment training programmes available for rural youth and SHG members, encouraging them to utilise these opportunities to establish sustainable livelihoods.

Addressing the gathering, Mohd Hassnain, Development Officer, Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC), highlighted the role of life insurance in providing financial security and social protection. He familiarised participants with various insurance schemes and encouraged them to adopt suitable policies to safeguard their families against unforeseen circumstances.

The programme also focused on strengthening SHG institutions through proper maintenance of books of records, improving financial discipline, encouraging innovative livelihood activities and enterprise development, and preparing community organisations for future monitoring and review exercises.

Concluding the programme, Habibullah Rizvani thanked the resource persons, participants and community cadres for their active involvement and reaffirmed LRLM’s commitment to promoting financial literacy, institutional capacity building, social mobilisation and sustainable livelihood generation through convergence with line departments.