SGSY a new self-employment programme to assist the rural poor people to enhance income and improve their quality of life. The objective of SGSY is to enable the identified BPL families to cross the poverty line over a period of time by providing them with income generating assets through a mix of bank credit and Govt subsidy. It stands for assistance of the swarozgaries by ensuring appreciable and sustained level of income.

As mentioned above, assistance is given to the poor families living below the poverty line in rural areas for taking up self-employment economic activities - individually as well as in Groups (Self Help Group). Funds to be received under the scheme are shared by the Central and the State Governments in 90.10 ratios respectively. After six months of the formation of a Self Help Group, Rs. 10,000/- is provided as Revolving Fund and after completion of 2nd Grading exercise ( one year), subsidy @ 50% subject to a maximum of Rs. 1,25,000/- is provided to a Self Help Group.

During 2009-2010, a total central allocation of Rs. 16.15 lakhs has been made for the District against which DRDA has so far received Rs. 16.15 lakhs. There are more than 195 SHGs including 41 women SHGs in the District excluding SHGs which were removed from the District Directory of SHGs in the wake of bifurcation of Sangau RD Block from Saiha District and Govt’s notification of Saiha Town and Thingsen as urban areas.

3% of Funds available under SGSY has been earmarked and utilized for physically challenged or disabled persons strictly in accordance with SGSY Guidelines. 10% of available fund has also been earmarked for imparting orientation/capacity and skill development trainings to SHGs.

Rearing of livestocks is very successful in the District. Mithun SHG-1, Siata is one of the most successful and vibrant SHGs in the State. Some of the important and common key activities of SHGs in the District are: 1) Rearing of live-stocks, 2) Handloom, 3) Pesciculture, 4) Growing variety of fruit, 5) Break-making 6) Balu collecting & selling 7) Furniture workshops, 8)Variety Shop-making, 9) Tailoring, 10) Poultry farming, 11) Growing of spicy plants like turmeric, chillies, etc.