Krishnagiri: The district administration has extended loan assistance to the tune of Rs. 242 crore to self-help groups under various Government schemes. A total of 7,000 SHGs are functioning in Krishnagiri district, said Collector Santhosh Babu here on Tuesday.
The district administration has initiated steps to form federation of SHGs at the panchayat level. A panchayat-level federation (PLF) would be formed with the participation of two group members from each SHG in all the panchayats, irrespective of the NGOs. They would act like a mini NGO in the panchayat concerned.
The federation would be registered under the Society for Registration Act, and trained to form groups and forward linkages.
The SHGs would acquire the functioning of an NGO, and could form micro enterprises such as dairy farming and sericulture to aid their economic empowerment. He appealed to SHGs to move towards the prosperity line.
Of the 337 village panchayats in the district, PLF was formed only in 98 panchayats.
SHGs should graduate into self-sustaining institutions such as PLF to stand up on their own, instead of being dependent on NGOs. On their part, NGOs would prepare projects for SHGs aimed at providing income between Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 5,000 a month for each member.
While the literacy rate of the State was 70 per cent, literacy rate among SHGs was only 30 per cent. A special literacy programme has been launched in Krishnagiri district to educate all group members.
The district administration and banks were ready to extend financial assistance including common facilities to SHGs for cultivation of mulberry.
With sericulture providing high returns over 400 group members would be enrolled to take up mulberry cultivation. Each member could cultivate mulberry on two acres, which ensured six to seven harvests a year Mr. Babu added. Assistant General Manager NABARD V. Thirumalai was present.
Printer friendly
page Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
