Ranald Lopes sdb CHHOTA UDEPUR, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008: A path breaking meeting was held at Chhota Udepur on Friday, September 19, to set objectives and plan the future course of action for the Self Help Group movement in which we are involved. Present for the meeting were Salesians from six of our Don Bosco centres in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The meeting was called for and facilitated by the Development Office, Mumbai. The meeting began with an evaluation of the present state of the SHG programme in the various centres. It was observed that the SHG movement is well founded in our centres and a variety of activities are being carried out through these groups. However, most of these activities revolve around monetary issues – savings, loans, income generation programmes. It was felt that we now need to move on to a different level of activities, namely, building up the capacity of the groups to manage development issues pertaining to their villages. A detailed discussion was then held on what should be our road map for the future. After a very animated and thought provoking debate, we finally arrived at three objectives: 1. SHGs to ensure that the stipulated number of Gram Sabhas are held and that the people actively participate in the same 2. SHGs to ensure that the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is effective in their villages 3. SHGs to ensure that the National Rural Employment Scheme is implemented in their villages. A detailed action plan which will involve people’s participation is now being worked out to actualize these objectives. As a first step, all the centres will identify by the end of September the villages in which they will pilot this programme. Capacity building of the staff to implement these objectives is the next step which is being planned.