Pondicherry: The Swarna Jayanthi Sahari Rozgar Yojana (SJSRY) launched nine years ago in keeping with the Centre's plan to encourage self-employment projects to eradicate urban poverty has been making good strides here. Project Director T. Rajamani said the scheme, introduced in 1997 to mark the golden jubilee of the country's Independence, envisaged launching of self help groups, promotion of educational standards of poor children and attract participation in various job oriented schemes encouraged by the Pondicherry government in collaboration with nationalised banks.

Addressing a meeting organised by the State Women's Commission here on Monday to bring to focus the various opportunities for women to launch projects, she said the SJSRY is a joint project of the Centre and the State government. Ms. Rajamani said a total of 1,140 all women self-help groups had been formed and registered under the Companies Act, 1956, so far. There were also 100 unregistered organisations.

Group members were acting as a bridge between slums and the government machinery to bring to the attention of the latter the requirements and amenities of the slum areas.

Qualified women possessing Standard X certificates and above were trained in computer education, tailoring, typewriting and other skill upgradation programme for five months with a monthly stipend of Rs.250 to each trainee.

The self- help groups are also entitled to bank loans to the extent of 45 percent of the projects they took up, while 50% of the cost would be available as subsidy and the remaining five percent would be contributed by the groups. They also mobilise savings from among the members.

There were also instances of savings by each of many groups as high as Rs.1 lakh. The SJSRY sanctions revolving funds to the groups assessing their performance during the first one year of their formation.

Prompt repayment

Banks had also provided loans to some of the groups to the extent of Rs.2.5 lakh in view of their prompt repayment of earlier dues.

Ms. Rajamani said jute and leather bags, agarbathis made by the self-help groups in Muthialpet had been finding wider markets within and outside the country. She underscored the need for a common market centre to dispose the products.

Daily wage employment was also made available through the groups in areas where they were located.

The products of the groups were also patronised well at an International Trade Fairs and the Pondicherry stall bagged the second prize at the fair. She also sought exemption from sales tax for the products of the self help groups.

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