Sandhya Self Help Group founded by Vinod Kumari, 35 years at Maili Village, Garhshankar Tehsil, Hoshiarpur District, Punjab in the year 2005. Sandhya Self Help Group focused towards Empowerment of women and creating several Employment opportunities for them. There are total 14 members of this group. SSHG’s area of specialization is processing and making Pickles, Chutney, Jams, Squashes, Spices, Atta, Pulses and ready to serve fruits & drinks.
Vinod Kumari started with organic farming on 5 acres of land in 2005. After that many women of their village gathered to form different Self Help Groups but only Sandhya Self Help Group has moved forward because of the hard work of Vinod Kumari. Her father Sri Gurdial Chand Shah stood with her at every step and helped her to reach at this level. She took training from Water Preservation Department, Punjab, Krishi Vigyan Kendra Bahowal, Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Transformation Holistic Initiative (SARTHI) Program by Department of Science and Technology, Delhi. Then, she did post-harvest handling, Food Processing and Preservation Course. Vinod Kumari is making different types of pickles from Mango, Garlic, Bitter-gourd, Lemon, Ginger, Chili, Hill Lemon, Gooseberries, Cauliflower and carrot. They are making marmalades (Murabba) from Mango, Gooseberries, Apple, Carrot, Harar and squashes from Lemon, Mango, Litchi, Rose and also Tomato sauce, Mango Chutney, Mix Fruit Jam etc.
Rose Sharbat made by Sandhya Self Help Group is highly demanded, Union Minister of Science and Technology Dr. Harshvardhan also appreciated Rose Sharbat made by this group and also ordered 540 rose sharbat to serve in parliament. Specialty of the Rose Sharbat is that it is fully organic and contains Zero preservatives and no added color and flavor.
She has also adopted the occupation of handling fruits and Vegetables which she grows on her own fields organically. As a President of the group, she is contributing to women empowerment by providing employment opportunities to the group
She is using all the modern techniques as drip irrigation for watering plants.
5 Acres
Pickles, Squashes , Marmalades, Tomato Sauce, Mango Chutney, Mix Fruit Jam
Drip Irrigation, Processing Machines
Women empowerment and engage women in these activities so that they can build their own identity.
Achievements/Awards Vinod Kumari with more than 10 years of experience- A team of around 15 women workers.
A woman should never suppress her skills and interest because of other reasons. Because those skills and interest can help her earn livelihood tomorrow in difficult times. Moreover knowing an additional skill is never a disadvantage, sometime in future that skill will definitely come to work. And whenever you get the opportunity, never miss it and always take advantage of it.