Self Help Group Unit


Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya, Barrackpore has taken the initiative to mobilize the women in local and adjacent areas of Barrackpore through the formation of their Self Help Group (SHG) Unit. The aim of this activity is to encourage the formation of Self Help Group among the needy, local women, to make them self sufficient. This idea of self sufficiency forms the crux of the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi who advocated socio-economic reconstruction by economic self sufficiency for the people of grassroots level, especially women.
The Museum runs a Training Centre in collaboration with a society of local area for developing the technical skills and managerial capability through some practical oriented training courses like Food Processing and Preservation, Tailoring and Cutting, Fabric and Batik Print, Manufacture of Jute Products, Grooming and Personality Development, etc. Local women are often equipped with artistic skills; yet do not have the opportunity to carve out a livelihood for themselves. Lacking business skills and access to raw materials and markets, these women struggle to become economically self-reliant. Such type of programmes would also assist in capacity building of the women, raising their technical skills and managerial capability, accounting and management skill, general confidence, interactive capacity, creativity and raising their socio-economic status.


Application Form: Application Form for SHG Training


  • Closing Ceremony of the Training Programme for group of Women (10.01.2021)
    Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya, Barrackpore organized the Closing Ceremony of the Training Programme on 'Making of Hand-made Jewelries' for group of Women on January 10, 2021. The four months' duration training programme was completed on March, 2020. In view of the difficulties for the present pandemic situation the programme for celebrating the closing ceremony of this training programme was organized on January 10, 2021.
  • Closing Ceremony of Training Programme for women on Batique, Bandhni and Fabric:
    Six months' Training Programme on Batique, Bandhni and Fabric for Women was completed on 09/10/2018. The Training Programme was started on April, 2018 with twelve women participants. Shri Prasanta Das, a recognized Trainer of Government of West Bengal was appointed to train them in this Art Work.
  • Commencement of Training in Production of Jute Products from 18.11.2017:
    The Sangrahalaya has started a new training in production of Jute Products from November, 18, 2017. A batch of ten (10) of ladies had enrolled for the training. The training involves manufacture of different kinds of jute products like key rings, hand bags, toys, etc. by the participants of the training. The participants will have to sit for an examination consisting of theory as well as practical and they will be awarded certificates on completion of the training at the end of March, 2018.
  • Commencement of Training in Manufacturing Cloth Bags (From 24/06/2017):
    A new training has started at the Sangrahalaya from June 24, 2017, as a part of its endeavour to encourage financial capacity building among the local ladies. The training involves manufacture of different kinds of cloth purses and bags by the participants of the training. The participants will be awarded certificates on completion of the training.
  • Training for Hand Batik (04/02/2017):
    The training for hand for hand batik is being organized by the Sangrahalaya, from February 04, 2017 as part of its programme for building up financial capacity for the local needy ladies. A new batch of participants have enrolled in the training. The participants are being taught to make handkerchiefs, table cloths, dupattas and wall hangings in this training.
  • Training on Food Preparation and Preservation (Started from 05/11/2016):
    The Training Programme started by the Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya, Barrackpore in the previous financial year to provide financial empowerment to local needy women is being carried on successfully. A new batch of ladies has enrolled for the training on Food Preparation and Preservation. Till date they have been taught to prepare and preserve vinegar, four types of syrups, four types of squashes, three types of jams and one type of jelly In the days to come they will be taught more items such as different types of pickles and sauces.
  • Training on Cutting and Tailoring:
    After the completion of the Training on Food Processing and Preservation the Sangrahalaya has started the training on Cutting and Tailoring for the local, needy women from April 16, 2016. The participants are being taught to make common dresses such as kurtis, blouses, churidars, patialas, petticoats etc which will subsequently be sold from the sales counter of the Sangrahalaya. The classes are being held Saturdays and Sundays every week between 12 noon to 3 pm in the afternoon.
  • SHG Training on Food Processing & Preservation:
    The Sangrahalaya started the Training on Food Processing and Preservation in collaboration with Manirampur Shilpa Samabaya Samiti Limited at the premises of the Sangrahalaya from the 9th of January, 2016 for the women of Barrackpore as well as adjacent areas for their financial empowerment. The participants have been trained to prepare various food products like jams, pickles, vinegar, different types of squashes and sauces in these classes. Classes are being held on Saturdays and Sundays every week between 12 noon to 3 pm in the afternoon. The training on Food Preparation and Preservation ended in March 2016.