The Department of SHG &SE was set up in July 2006 by an amendment in the West Bengal Rule of Business (Notification no. 196 Home(Cons.) R2R (Cons.)-10/06 dt. 12/07/2006.
Address of Office: Department of Self Help Group & Self Employment.
EAST INDIA HOUSE(1st Floor), 20B, Abdul Hamid Street,
Kolkata-700 069
Institution under the administrative control of this Department :-

1. West Bengal Swarojgar Corporation Ltd. (WBSCL)

Main Activities:

1. Implementation of Swami Vivekananda SwanirbharKarmasansthanPrakalpa(SVSKP) to generate self-employment to the unemployed youths.
2. To provide Interest Subsidy for Self Help Groups through the scheme namely West Bengal SwanirbharSahayakPrakalpa (WBSSP) to reduce interest burden on loan obtained from Banks.
3. To provide skill-upgradation training and vocational training in connection with functional improvement of Self Help Groups and Self Employment Schemes.
4. Training programmes,especially for the unemployed youths of JangalMahal covering the districts of Bankura, Purulia and PaschimMedinipur.
5. Organizing State level SabalaMela, Kolkata SabalaMela and district level SabalaMelas to open up avenues for marketing the products of self-employed and for publicising and creating awareness of the quality, prices, usefulness of the products of SVSKP entrepreneurs, participation in other fairs and exhibitions.
6. To create and maintain Sustainable Livelihood of Self Help Group members so as to eradicate their poverty, a project named ‘Muktidhara' has been launched.
7. Construction of training-cum-marketing(KARMATIRTHA) complexes to facilitate training to Self Help Groups for the skill development and for the marketing of their products.
8. Policy formulation and co-ordination of all works relating to Self Help Groups and Self Employment Schemes. Co-ordination of institutional finance in connection with Self Help Groups and Self Employment Schemes.

1. Swami Vivekananda SwanirbharKarmasansthanPrakalpa(SVSKP) :
Scheme implemented by- West Bengal Swarojgar Corporation Ltd. (WBSCL), 
The flagship scheme "Swami Vivekananda SwanirbharKarmasansthanPrakalpa(SVSKP)'' all over the State to create self-employment opportunities for unemployed youth including members of backward classes, minorities and women all over the State. Unemployed youths on fulfilment of certain criteria laid down in the Scheme are helped out to start individually or group enterprises with bank finance.
Maximum Govt. subsidy of Rs.1.5 lakh for individual and Rs.3.5 lakh for group of five and above representing 30% of the project cost is provided by West Bengal Swarojgar Corporation Ltd. (WBSCL). For individual, it is called ‘AtmaMaryada' and the same for a group is called ‘AtmaSamman'. The main objective of the scheme was to generate self-employment in the State.The unemployed are identified and wherever possible are trained before they come up with their projects for institutional finance whereby subsidy is provided to the entrepreneurs by State Government. With the advent of the new Govt. in the State, certain primal modifications have been brought into the scheme. While the quantum of subsidy has been raised from 20% to 30%. Strikingly, the scheme has been named after the youth icon of India Swami Vivekananda and has been renamed as ‘Swami Vivekananda SwanirbharKarmasansthanPrakalpa' since 19.09.2012. More stress has been given on training, especially on trades where the locally available abundant raw materials, wasted due to ignorance, could be utilized for producing finer articles and on traditional crafts where there is sufficient potential.

2. West Bengal SwanirbharSahayakPrakalpa(WBSSP):
Scheme implemented by- West Bengal Swarojgar Corporation Ltd. (WBSCL) In order to provide relief to the interest burden on the Bank loan availed by the Self Help Groups (SHGs), the State Government has introduced the West Bengal SwanirbharSahayakPrakalpa (WBSSP) Scheme. According to this Scheme from 01/04/2014 the Government shall provide an interest subsidy to the eligible SHGs on a portion of the interest charged by Commercial, Regional Rural and Co-operative banks on the Bank loan. Considering that the Bank is charging interest @11% p.a. on the loan component of SHG, the Government shall subsidize interest component of the loan @9% p.a. and the beneficiary has to pay the rest part i.e., @2% p.a.In order to streamline the system, it has been decided by the Government that the Banks will submit the claim of subsidy electronically to West Bengal Swarojgar Corporation Ltd, who will verify the claims and make e-payment directly to the accounts of the eligible SHGs through RTGS/NEFT.

3. Skill Development Training of SHG members and entrepreneurs:
With a view to create employment opportunity, upgrading the skill, developing qualitative standard of the products of self-employment enterprises, the Department of SHG & SE has been organizing training programmes on various trades through

• District level functionaries
• West Bengal Swarojgar Corporation Ltd. (WBSCL).

Several no of trainings have been imparted on the following subject :
Tailoring, Soft Toy making, Zori Craft, Floriculture, Jute Products manufacturing, Goat Farming, Computer Applications, Marketing, Handmade Paper Bag making, Napkin Making, Vermi Compost Production, Organic Farming, Industrial Hand Gloves making, Ornamental Candle making, Agarbatti making etc.

Thrust for Training in JungalMahal areas of the State :
With a view to create employment opportunity and to develop qualitative standard of the products of the SHGs, special training programmes have been organized in 23 blocks of 3 districts, namely Purulia, Bankura, PaschimMedinipur in JangalMahal. Trainings have been imparted on Production of Herbal Dye from flowers, Dry Flowers making, making varied products from Babui Grass, making Quilt from Hen Feather, Plates for Sal Leaves, Eucalyptus Oil extracting, Designer Musk making, Articles from Lac etc.

4. Organizing of Fairs & Exhibitions:
Fairs & Exhibitions are organized on regular basis to open up avenues for marketing the products of self-employed entrepreneurs &to establish their linkages with potential buyers apart from publicizing and creating awareness regarding quality, prices, and usefulness of the products of the SVSKP Entrepreneurs. The Department organizes State level, Kolkata SabalaMela and district level SabalaMela. The SHGs not only succeeded in selling their merchandise considerably but also a majority of them succeeded in establishing links with some business houses, whole sellers & eminent persons of the marketing world for future sale of their products through them all the year round. Dissemination of knowledge amongst the common people related to SHGs and SEs & their products including niche products was also a major objective. Cultural programmes were also held every evening to make this fair more attractive. The Department aimed at enabling the SHGs and Entrepreneurs to have access to the market both domestic/national and international. Judging from the comments and reactions of general public as well as visiting dignitaries, it could be said that the Mela was a thumping success. A few selected SHGs & individual Entrepreneurs take part in India International Trade Fair every year wherein the products specially the innovative ones manufactured by the SHGs and Self Employed Entrepreneurs were adored & purchased by Buyers from all cross sections of the Society of Indian Capital City and also by Buyers from outside the country. Apart from this, a large no. of SHGs take part in the Fairs organized by different State Govt. Departmentsand various Fairs Organized by NGOs etc.

5. Construction of Training-cum-Marketing Complexes(KARMATIRTHA) under  State Plan:
This Department has undertaken a programme of setting up of projects of Training-cum-Marketing Complex (KARMATIRTHA) in the districts and sub-divisional headquarters under State Plan to facilitate training of SHGs for Skill Development and for marketing of their products. 

6. Personal Accident Insurance Scheme for SHGs :
The State Govt. has undertaken an initiative - "Samajsathi"a Personal Accident Insurance Scheme for SHG members of the State. The task in this regard has been entrusted to the SHG & SE Department as the Nodal Department and WBSCL as the Implementing Agency. The Department entrustedtwo Insurance companies namely National Insurance Company Ltd. &Cholamandalam MS General Insurance Company Ltd. to provide accidental insurance benefit to the SHG members. 

• Target Group – SHG Members
• Age limit – 18-60 years

• Rs.2 lakh for accidental death & permanent total disablement.
• Rs.1,50,000/- (maximum) for partial permanent disablement.
• Rs.60,000/- (maximum) forhospitalization for accidental medical treatment.
• Rs.5,000/- (maximum) on accidental outdoor medical treatment (Day Care).
• Rs.2500/- for funeral expenses for accidental death over & above of the Principal Amount.

7. Muktidhara (Sustainable Livelihood Project):
The Department undertook a Sustainable Livelihood Project named ‘Muktidhara' during 2012-13. It has been initially implemented in Purulia&PaschimMedinipur district, to create and maintain sustainable livelihood of SHG members as to alleviate their poverty and to develop them economically. The project is being implemented in association with NABARD. The project is going to be implemented in 7 more districts of the State namely Howrah, Hooghly, N. 24 Parganas, S. 24 Parganas, Nadia, Murshidabad&Burdwan.