A 25-member delegation from Ethiopia gained insights into the community-based livelihood and women’s empowerment initiatives being implemented under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) during its visit to Rajasthan over the weekend. The group studied the model facilitated by the Rajasthan Grameen Ajeevika Vikas Parishad.The delegation comprised 15 members from the Ethiopian government, three from the World Bank, and seven from Micro Save Consulting, who were accompanied by four officials from the NRLM. The two-day visit was aimed at understanding the structure, implementation and outcomes of the State’s rural livelihood programmes.The delegation’s members interacted with the members of self-help groups (SHGs), village organisations and cluster-level federations managed by women in Alwar district. They observed the processes of SHG formation, inter-loaning mechanisms, and income generating activities undertaken through producer groups and producer enterprises.The Ethiopian officials praised the community-driven model and the leadership demonstrated by women members of SHGs. They also evinced a keen interest in understanding the activities undertaken for sustainable rural livelihoods and women’s socio-economic empowerment.The delegation visited the State Project Management Unit of Ajeevika Vikas Parishad in Jaipur after completing the tour to Alwar district’s villages. The District Project Managers presented detailed insights into the ongoing programmes and innovations during the interaction.While State Mission Director Neha Giri highlighted the convergence between different government schemes and the role of community-based institutions in fostering inclusive development, the officials from the participating banks apprised the delegation of the credit linkages and financial mechanisms extended to SHGs across the State.According to official sources, the discussions during the meeting offered valuable insights into Rajasthan’s model of rural livelihoods, community mobilisation and women-led enterprise development. Senior bankers also threw light on the attempts to enhance financial inclusion in the rural areas.Published - November 02, 2025 02:15 am IST