Karnataka - Bellary   

`SHGs have helped women become independent'

By Our Staff Correspondent

BELLARY, APRIL 7. Women's self-help groups (SHGs) in the State, which were established under the Stree Shakti scheme to make women socially and economically independent, have been a model in the country, Bhagirathi Marulasiddanagowda, Minister for Women and Child Development, has said.

"The savings by around 1.28 lakh SHGs in the State has touched Rs. 247 crores, indicating that the scheme has been able to help women become socially and economically independent," she said.

Ms. Bhagirathi was speaking after inaugurating the exhibition-cum-sale of products prepared by various women's self-help groups in the district. The programme was organised by the Department of Women and Child Development at the Stree Sevaniketan here on Wednesday.

She said that the State Government plans to set up permanent outlets in all taluk and district headquarters to market the produces of SHGs. The first such outlet was set up in Bellary district at an estimated cost of Rs. 1 lakh. Four more outlets will be set up at an estimated cost of Rs. 5 lakhs, she said.

The Minister said that Stree Shakti Groups in urban areas have been given the responsibility of marketing products made by SHGs in rural areas. Training has been imparted to the groups for the purpose, she said.

She said that the Union Government has sanctioned the setting up of 13,800 new anganwadis in the State and orders will be issued in this regard soon. Ms. Bhagirathi distributed cheques to SHGs under various schemes.

G. Umesh, President of the zilla panchayat, said that there is a proposal to construct marketing outlets under the Sampoorna Gram Swarozgar Yojana at all taluk headquarters in the district. In addition, he has urged the Minister to pass an order entrusting the responsibility of supplying vegetables, foodgrains and other items to hostels to SHGs.

B. Sriramulu, MLA, underlined the need to give a thrust to the development of women. P. Sharada, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Social Justice; Inath Reddy, President of the Bellary Taluk Panchayat; S.N. Jayaram, Deputy Commissioner; G.S. Shivaswamy, Chief Executive Officer of the panchayat; H.A.P. Rao, Assistant General Manager, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development; and H.K. Suresh, Lead Bank Manager, were present.

M. Radhakrishna, Deputy Director, Department of Women and Child Development, welcomed.

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`SHGs have helped women become independent'

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