A local detergent product, made by a women's self-help group, has evoked great response in Nagaland encouraging many other SHGs to' emulate their success story. The detergent powder, cheaper than some popular brands of consumer majors and largely popular, is made by a self-help group (SHG) in a village near Dimapur with caustic soda and other locally available materials. Initiated by a few Naga women activists, 'Women Ahead' is now transforming many homes and families in rural Nagaland. Started in August 2006 with the motto of growth, Women Ahead is a network of over 60 SHGs spreading across Kohima, Dimapur and Peren districts in the state and intends to start its work in Mokokchung district within this year. UNIQUE PATTERN One of such beneficiary villages is Vidima near Dimapur where members of SHGs are now involved in various economic activities such as weaving, piggery, bee keeping, making of pickles and decorative items, besides producing detergent powder. Gifted with dexterous hands, the weavers of the village have a unique weaving pattern and participated at exhibitions and fairs of handlooms and handicrafts. The group members have also set up a chilly grain machine in the village. Not very far from Vidima is Lhothavi village where members of SHGs have undertaken viable economic alternatives which led to improvement in their livelihood. Such initiatives of providing alternative income generation to women have not only improved the living condition of their families in the areas of nutrition, health care, education and access to other services but given them confidence to participate in larger community driven activities in their respective villages. CATALYSTS FOR CHANGE "These village women are the real catalysts for social change," the President of Women Ahead, Ms Neilazono Terhuja, said. The main objective of the group, initially formed by three ladies, all employees of Secretariat, was to empower the rural women in all aspects through SHG movement, Ms Terhuja said. "We seek to create new SHGs as well as to strengthen the existing ones. Broadly, our objectives include generating understanding about eco-friendly attitudes, developing reading habits and instil self-reliance, she said. MONITORING The Women Ahead, with its seven members, now acts as a vital ink between commercial banks and SHGs, undertakes capacity building initiatives and also regularly monitors the activities of women groups. The creation of a revolving fund of Rs 10,000 for each SHG has been an encouraging experience for the group. Without any financial assistance from the Government, this fund was created with individual members' contribution.