Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Nov 6: The Shree Siddivinayaka Mahila Self-Help Group of Golthamajalu in Bantwal taluk, Dakshina Kannada, has been honoured with the coveted Kaushalya Shringasabha-2025 award for excellence in skill development and livelihood initiatives under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) and National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM).
The three-day summit, held at the Lalit Ashok Hotel in Bengaluru, celebrated outstanding achievements in entrepreneurship, skill development, and livelihood promotion.
Presenting the award, Dr Sharan Prakash R Patil, minister for skill development, entrepreneurship and livelihoods, lauded the group’s commitment, saying, “Grassroots women’s groups such as Shree Siddivinayaka are the backbone of sustainable livelihoods in our state. Their dedication and innovation set an example for others to follow.”
This year, the award recognised self-help groups from eight districts across Karnataka for their exemplary work in empowering women and communities.
Other notable awardees included the Hirihonnappa Vikas Mahila self-help group from Ankola taluk, Bawikere Grama Panchayat in Uttara Kannada; the Chennamma self-help group from Gunja Babalada Grama Panchayat, Aland taluk, Kalaburagi; the Shree Rama Atma Mahila Food Security Group from Jhansi Rani Federation, Vivipura Grama Panchayat, Hiriyur taluk, Chitradurga; the Tayammadevi self-help group from Shree Ramalingeshwari Sanjeevini Federation, Nadavi Grama Panchayat, Siruguppa taluk, Ballari; the Divyajyothi Nirantara Saving Group from Shree Durga area-level federation, Mahanagara Palike, Shivamogga; the Annapurneshwari Mahila self-help group from Sarojini Naidu area-level federation, Greater Bengaluru Municipal Corporation; and the Akka Mahadevi Mahila self-help group from Ganesh area-level federation, Mahanagara Palike, Raichur.
The summit was attended by senior officials, including Smt Shivakantamma Nayak, chairperson of the Karnataka State Skill Development Corporation, Dr E V Ramanareddy, chairperson of the Karnataka Skill Development Authority, and Sri Srinivas M, additional mission director, Sanjeevini-KSRLPS, along with dignitaries from various government departments.
Speaking at the event, Shivakantamma Nayak emphasised, “Recognition of such women’s collectives not only honours their hard work but inspires thousands of others across the state to take up sustainable livelihoods and entrepreneurship.”
The Kaushalya Shringasabha awards continue to highlight Karnataka’s commitment to empowering women through skill development and entrepreneurship, spotlighting the achievements of grassroots-level organisations that make a real difference in their communities.