Tamil Nadu - Others   

SHG members protest against cold response of bank

R. Ilangovan

They claimed that the officials were unwilling to sanction loans to SHGs `Delay in sanctioning loans, subsidies and revolving funds has adversely affected the upward mobility of women here'

OMALUR (Salem): Terming it a fray in the movement of women empowerment in rural areas, hundreds of women, protesting against a nationalised bank for its cold response and delayed release of subsidies, revolving funds and loans meant for women self-help groups (SHGs), staged a 45-minute demonstration in front of the bank's branch office here on Friday.

Bank officials accused

The women and youth belonging to SHGs of the backward Omalur block in the district, including the Federation of Prabhavati Women Associations, Jayaprakash Narayan Youth Federation and Alternative for India Development (AID), accused a few officials working in the branch of putting spokes in the wheel of the progress of the movement for women empowerment through the formation of SHGs here.

Officials unwilling

They claimed that the officials were unwilling to sanction loans though the SHGs had a proven track record of impeccable performances, including the prompt repayment of loans.

"The delay in sanctioning these loans, subsidies and revolving funds has adversely affected the upward mobility of the women in this rural pocket of the State," said Sumathi, one of the organisers. The agitating members also pointed out that the few officials concerned had also refused to release the subsidies and revolving funds in time, which made a significant negative impact on the performance of the SHGs.

Negative approach

Even the groups that were eligible to receive government subsidies for self-employment were being given the cold shoulder.

"Such a negative approach has defeated the lofty objective for which the women SHG movement was started. The SHGs have Dalits and those living below the poverty line (BPL) on its rolls as members," pointed out another woman female member. They also accused the bank officials of not permitting them to open accounts in the bank.

Demand for action

They urged senior officials to initiate action against those who were attempting to defeat the SHG movement at Omalur, a rural block in Salem district where drought and poverty remain inseparably prevail till today and where the social evils such as female foeticide (Omalur has the lowest female sex ratio of with 0: -6 in Tamil Nadu the State) and child labour thrives despite stringent enforcement of laws.

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