The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Study on SHGs mooted

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Sep 29, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Study on SHGs mooted

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 28. The Rural Development Minister, D. Srinivas, on Tuesday asked public sector banks to commission a study on diversifying activities of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) "which now appear saturated". Inaugurating a State-level workshop on SHGs with the theme "Managing Scale", Mr. Srinivas said only banks could afford such a study and they stand to benefit from it, given the high recovery rate. He wanted the study to look at the employment avenues and potential in the next 10 to 15 years. SHG representatives from various districts are attending the two-day workshop.

Revolving fund

In a brief interaction with media later, the Minister said all SHGs which had completed one year, would be given the revolving fund. He said the present Government was against using members of DWCRA groups for political purpose. "We are more interested in your own development, that of society and then of the State". He recalled that while it was former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was instrumental in bringing about 33 per cent reservation for women, it was in another former Prime Minister, P. V. Narasimha Rao's tenure way back in 1992 that the budget allocation for Rural Development was increased from Rs.9000 crores to Rs. 35,000 crores.

Largest movement

The number of SHGs had been growing steadily ever since, to reach five lakh groups and 65 lakh women, making it the largest movement of its kind, in the country. It had made a vast difference to women in rural areas, especially in raising their self- esteem. "But we need to strengthen the groups and expand their activities". K. Raju, Commissioner of Rural Development, T. Vijay Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) spoke. C. S. Reddy, CEO of the Andhra Pradesh Mahila Abhivruddhi Society (APMAS), who welcomed the gathering, said the workshop was intended at knowing how to take the SHG movement forward.

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