Swayamsidha is an integrated project for the development and empowerment of women. It was introduced during 2001-02 – replacing the erstwhile Indira Mahila Yojana – and shall continue upto 2006-07. It is based on the formation of women into Self Help Groups (SHGs) with emphasis on converging services, developing access to micro credit and promoting micro enterprises. The long term objective of the scheme is to achieve an all-round empowerment of women, especially socially and economically by ensuring their direct access to, and control over, resources through a sustained process of mobilization and convergence of all ongoing sectoral programmes.

The immediate objectives of the programme are as follows:

• Establishment of self-reliant women's Self Help Groups (SHGs);

• Creation of confidence and awareness among members of SHGs regardingwomen's status, health, nutrition, education, sanitation and hygiene,
  legal rights, economic upliftment and other social, economic and political
  issues;

• Strengthening and institutionalizing the savings habit among rural women and their control over economic resources;

• Improving access of women to micro credit;

• Involvement of women in local level planning; and

• Convergence of services of W& CD Deptt. and other Departments.

The most important component of the programme is the formulation, implementation and monitoring of block-specific composite projects for 4-5 years incorporating the following four elements:

• Group formation/mobilization activities;

• Community oriented innovative interventions;

• Other schemes of W & CD Deptt.,namely Swawlamban, STEP, AGP, etc. if there is a felt-need;

• Convergence of schemes of other departments, whether under GOI or State Government initiative.

The term of the scheme has been extended to 31.3.2007. Total fund sanctioned by GoI is Rs. 4.16 crore for the scheme.

The programme covers 36 Blocks in the KBK districts and the backward district of Boudh . These composite Swayamsiddha projects are implemented by the Project Implementing Agency (PIA). The Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) has been nominated as the PIA by the State Government. Each Block Specific Project for 4-5 years covering 100 WSHGs was formulated incorporating the activities of group formation and mobilization activities; community-oriented interventions and convergence of services of the W&CD Department and other Departments of Government. This Programme has been dovetailed with ‘Mission Shakti’ and the good and stable WSHGs are being provided training for capacity building.

During 2005-06 Rs.113.45 lakhs has been received from Govt. of India under the scheme.  Thus so far 385.52 lakhs has been received against which 365.30 lakhs has been spent. Sincere step have been taken, 3600 WSHGs have been formed with 475.80 members. Mostly the members have taken up the following major income generating activities to enhance their economic activities.

(1) Rice, (2) Small business, (3) Vegetable Cultivation (4) Goatary, (5) Paddy Processing, (6) Broomstick making, (7) Weaving, (8) Khali Stitching etc. A total number of 2279 groups have availed loan from the financial institutions with credit adv. of 1481.90 lakhs. The total amount of savings made by the groups comes Rs.656.24 lakhs.