Empowering rural women through milk processing and value addition: a study of SHG in Haryana

This study depicts the silhouette of two Self Help Groups (SHG) viz., Anmol Mahila Dugdh Samiti and Nirmal Dhara Dugdh Samiti located in rural areas of Karnal (Haryana) with a major focus on creating entrepreneurial skills of women and making them self-sufficient. It also highlights the importance of institutional support (specifically National Dairy Research Institute and Arpana Research and Charities Trust), financial assistance and constraints faced at various levels. Furthermore, these SHGs also marginalized middleman who are often involved in other milk producing SHGs and thus increase the cost. The study traces value chain of milk and milk products from procurement, value- addition, market creation, advertisement till final disposal. Value addition involves paneer, dahi, khoa, and waste management is an additional miracle. A detailed profit analysis of two self-help groups for one financial year has also been undertaken along with an evaluation of the success stories of women members and their journey through the odds.