by BISMumbai Correspondent

MumbaiSalesians' DRISTI Don Bosco Kapadvanj Director-Father Mayank Parmar presented a research paper, "Economic Status of Self-Help Groups in Kapadvanj: A Step Forward Towards Self-Reliance-A Need Assessment Study," at the '2nd International Multi-Disciplinary Conference on Sustainable Development-A New Vision for Better Tomorrow', organised at Ganpat University, Mehsana on 11-12 March, 2022.

Father Parmar, apart from his DRISTI tasks, also a research scholar at the Sardar Patel University-Vallabh Vidyanagar, was 01 of the 51 selected research-paper scholars to participate in this international conference. The conference divided into 5 speciality tracks, selected the research papers from the numerous entries, through a rigorous jury-panel evaluation based on the overall research quality.

Father Parmar presented the research done through DRISTI Don Bosco of 124 SHGs, with a process of 61 focus group discussions [FGDs] held in the villages of the Kapadvanj Block in Kheda District-Gujarat, where DRISTI manages and animates the SHGs. Father Parmar expounded the major findings of the research, namely: monthly regularity of the SHGs in savings and meetings; we-feeling and community/group-belonging despite various differences; regular loan disbursements and periodic recovery ratio; group-bonding through accountability and responsibility in maintaining accounts, book-keeping, and leadership skill; self-reliance and independent functioning with detachment of DRISTI, except for invitational hand-holding and mentoring.

Father Parmar was felicitated with a citation and applauded for the scholarly research presentation.