The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Political parties vie for SHG pie

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Aug 27, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Political parties vie for SHG pie

S. Dorairaj

DMK claims AIADMK is trying to politicise the groups

CHENNAI: The ruling All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) appear to be vying with each other to garner the support of women self-help groups (SHGs).

Describing the SHG movement as the "brain child" of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, the Government claims it has "not only provided the much-needed economic security for women in rural areas but has also removed their feelings of vulnerability and powerlessness."

Ms. Jayalalithaa, who addressed a State conference of SHGs here on Thursday, said the movement had grown into a massive one — 34 lakh women under 2 lakh groups with savings of over Rs. 720 crores. At a special bankers' meeting on August 11, she claimed her Government offered a shining example of a successful initiative with a far-reaching social impact; the model had been emulated by many States and also adopted by the Centre.

However, the SHG movement is not free from controversies. The AIADMK has been accused of attempting to politicise the groups and convert them into vote banks, though they are meant to ensure the socio-economic empowerment of the rural poor.

The issue took a curious turn on August 24 with Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram appealing to the DPA Lok Sabha members to reach out to the SHGs and explain the Centre's role in extending assistance to them, besides making it clear that they were non-political outfits. Stressing the need for interacting with SHG members, he said that one such meeting would be held in his constituency, Sivaganga, on August 28.

The financing of the SHG programme is shared between the Centre and the State on a 75:25 ratio. The Opposition has also charged Ms. Jayalalithaa with promoting the groups on the pretext of "forging an alliance with the people." Having tested the political efficacy of the SHGs in the Gummidipoondi and Kancheepuram byelections, the AIADMK was planning to use them in the 2006 Assembly poll, the DPA has alleged.

AIADMK sources claimed that the State Government was only fulfilling its duty in helping the SHG movement increase its breadth and scope. The Centre could not do much on this count without the State's active involvement. Mr. Chidambaram's call to the DPA MPs only betrayed the wish of the Opposition to politicise the SHGs, they said. The war of words indicates that the issue is likely to occupy the centre stage of the State's politics in the coming weeks.

Attempts to politicise the SHGs may push them into a situation faced by many cooperatives and panchayat raj institutions, activists fear. Even if they do not realise their "value" as dependable grassroots networks that can tilt the balance in favour a party or alliance, party managers are acutely conscious of their "power and influence."

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu