The Department of Self Help Group & Self Employment (SHG & SE) was established in 2006 to formulate, implement and coordinate activities related to Self Help Groups (SHGs) and to promote self-employment opportunities for unemployed youth in West Bengal.
Major Roles
Promotion and Empowerment of SHGs
Supports the formation, strengthening and economic empowerment of Self Help Groups.
Facilitates access to credit, training, livelihood opportunities and markets.
Promotion of Self-Employment
Creates opportunities for unemployed youth to establish micro and small enterprises.
Supports entrepreneurship through schemes such as Swami Vivekananda Swanirbhar Karmasansthan Prakalpa (SVSKP).
Financial Support
Provides support for SHGs to access bank credit.
Through West Bengal Swanirbhar Sahayak Prakalpa (WBSSP), provides interest subsidy so that eligible SHGs can access bank loans at a reduced interest burden.
Skill Development & Training
Provides vocational and entrepreneurship training to SHG members and unemployed youth.
Training includes areas such as tailoring, food processing, computer training, handicrafts, jute products, mobile repairing, mushroom cultivation and others.
Marketing Support
Helps SHGs and self-employed entrepreneurs market their products.
Organises Sabala Mela and other fairs/exhibitions to connect producers with buyers and markets.
Convergence with Other Departments
Acts as a coordinating department for convergence-based livelihood and community-development activities.
It brings together resources and programmes of different government departments for the benefit of SHGs and unemployed youth.
Livelihood Development
Supports micro-enterprises, skill development, product development and other livelihood activities.
Initiatives such as Muktidhara focus on improving livelihood opportunities through convergence and enterprise development.
Institutional Coordination
The Department works through the Directorate of SHG & SE and West Bengal Swarojgar Corporation Limited (WBSCL).
The Directorate functions as the executive arm, coordinating departmental activities at the field level