Jharkhand's JSLPS Mobilises 34 Lakh Rural Families for Sustainable Livelihood Development
In a significant push towards enhancing tribal and rural livelihoods, the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) has successfully mobilised approximately 34 lakh rural families across the state. This achievement was highlighted during a state-level workshop held in Ranchi on Wednesday, which was jointly organised by JSLPS and NITI Aayog under the theme 'Strengthening Tribal and Rural Livelihoods through Sustainable Enterprise Development'.
Workshop Focuses on Women-Led Entrepreneurship and Community Mobilisation
The workshop emphasised women-led entrepreneurship, community mobilisation, and policy convergence as pivotal drivers for fostering inclusive and sustainable growth in Jharkhand. Representatives from various government departments, industry sectors, academia, financial institutions, and civil society actively participated in deliberations aimed at strengthening enterprise ecosystems in tribal and rural areas.
Impressive Statistics Showcase JSLPS's Outreach
According to officials, JSLPS has made substantial progress in empowering rural communities through structured initiatives:
- Mobilised 39 lakh women Self-Help Group (SHG) members
- Formed 21,175 village organisations, 998 cluster-level federations, 7,278 producer groups, and 123 farmer producer organisations
- Trained nearly 20 lakh farmers
- Promoted 37 lakh non-farm enterprises
- Strengthened or formed 3.32 lakh enterprises, with 80% engaged in trade, 9% in manufacturing, and 11% in services
Leadership Insights on Sustainable Livelihood Models
Ananya Mittal, CEO of JSLPS, stated, "The initiative aimed to strengthen women-led livelihood and enterprise models in tribal and rural regions through cross-learning and adoption of best practices from other states." Surendra Mehra, Advisor of NITI Aayog, stressed the importance of convergence across departments and schemes to build sustainable enterprise pathways. He noted, "The state has potential in agro-based industries, non-timber forest produce, eco-tourism, and mineral-based value chains."
Key Initiatives and Future Plans for Market Access
K Srinivasan, Secretary of the State Rural Development Department, highlighted the need for enabling land-use frameworks, improved access to finance, and stronger market linkages for tribal and rural women entrepreneurs. He referenced successful initiatives such as 'Brand Palash' and 'Adiva' and announced plans to establish a large-scale Palash Mart to provide robust market access to women-led enterprises.
Exhibition and Panel Discussions Highlight Innovation
A key attraction of the workshop was an exhibition featuring 22 stalls, showcasing community-led and market-linked enterprise models. These included Palash Mart, Jharcraft, Adiva, Didi Cafe, BIT Mesra, and the Institute of Hotel Management, reflecting innovation rooted in local resources and traditional knowledge.
Panel discussions underscored value addition, skill development, institutional support, innovation, and stronger academia–industry collaboration as critical enablers for sustainable rural enterprises. The event served as a platform to share insights and strategies for scaling up livelihood initiatives across Jharkhand.
