Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Drug licence sought for SHGs' products

By Subha J. Rao

Members of women self-help groups filling `Suham' shampoo into bottles on the SGSY complex in Udumalpet. — Photo: K. Ananthan

COIMBATORE, JULY 14. In a bid to expand the market for health products manufactured by women Self-help Groups (SHGs), the District Rural Development Agency has applied for a drug licence.

The shampoo and pain balm manufactured by the SHGs are now being marketed by other women's groups, but primarily in the rural circuit. Unless outside agents are appointed, it will be difficult to make inroads into the urban market. Outside agents are interested in marketing these low-priced products, but that is not possible unless a drug licence is obtained.

"In fact, some of them are willing to lift up to 10,000 bottles of pain balm a month at Rs. 4 a piece. Once the licence is got, we can appoint up to 10 outside agents," the Project Officer, DRDA, P. Jeyabalakrishnan, told The Hindu .

In the SGSY complex in Udumalpet, members of the Sree Sakthi Vinayagar group from Poozhankinaru and Valarpirai from Kanakkampalayam panchayat are busy stirring tubs of jasmine-scented `Suham' shampoo. They have just finished training and are learning on the job. So, far the women have manufactured nearly 4,000 60-ml bottles of shampoo, priced at Rs. 7.50 each.

The Block Development Officer, Udumalpet, M. Nagarajan, said the SHGs had managed to sell nearly half of that. "We are also looking at improving the quality to bring it on a par with other brands," he added.

The plastic bottles in which the shampoo and pain balm are sealed are currently being sourced from outside. The District Supply and Marketing Society (DSMS) is now hoping to purchase them from the Rajiv Gandhi SHG in Subbaiyakoundenpudur village in Anaimalai.

The DRDA has already said that when it came to looking at new economic activities, the thrust would be on rural health. In keeping with that, SHGs near Odanthurai are now into the manufacture of rubber slippers. The DSMS has already placed orders for a lakh pairs.

"The rates are just about one-third of the market price. Slippers for children are priced at Rs. 7 while those for adults cost Rs. 10. Fancy slippers will cost Rs. 15," he said.

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