The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : SHG movement being extended to cover men

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 22, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

SHG movement being extended to cover men

K. Lakshmi

Arunodhaya establishes 20 SHGs for men in the city

CHENNAI : The self-help group movement, largely confined to women until now, is being extended to men in the city.

A non-governmental organisation, Arunodhaya, has established around 20 SHGs for men at various locations since last month.

Members of the groups get trained in income generating activities such as servicing of mobile phones, air-conditioners and computers according to their educational qualification. On completion of their training, the group becomes eligible to seek self-employment loans from banks.

In addition, the concept of savings among the group members is also encouraged.

The 20 groups comprising a total of 250 men are spread across the city, including Aminjikarai, T. Nagar, Korukkupet and Kodambakkam. There were at least 12 members in each of the SHG, according to Arunodhaya executive director Virgil D'Samy.

The programmes were being operated in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women. The members will be assisted with job opportunities by the training centres identified by the Corporation.

Ms. Samy said members of several SHGs in the tsunami affected areas such as Kasimedu and Thanzhankuppam in Ennore, were already benefitting from the income generation activities that included setting up of petty shops.

Arunodhaya also recently started a youth wing in which men aged between 18-35 years would be trained to handle community problems in their area.

She said the organisation, started 15 years ago for rescuing street children and child labourers, had spread its wings to cover sections of the society.

Its services also covered domestic workers and unorganised labourers in the city. Their focus was on empowering women by providing vocational training.

On Tuesday, the women SHGs of the organisation celebrated International Women Day here. Cultural events and an exhibition showcasing the products of the SHG members were the highlights of the celebrations.

Chennai Corporation deputy mayor R. Satyabama inaugurated the exhibition.

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