Kerala - Alappuzha   

Isaac sees move to sabotage Kudumbasree programme

ALAPPUZHA: Coming out strongly against the Congress-sponsored Janasree self-help group, Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac on Saturday alleged that it was meant to “sabotage” the neighbourhood movement, Kudumbasree, which had proved a big success in the past 10 years.

He was addressing a convention of workers of People’s Plan movement here.

While Union Finance Minister P. Chidamabaram formally launched Janasree in Kochi, Dr. Isaac wanted the Congress to give up organising the parallel self-help group, saying it would only create problems for the grassroots-level development movement carried out by the State-supported Kudumbasree.

The success of Kudumbasree was that it ensured repayment of micro-credit the beneficiaries had availed themselves of.

Having multiple bodies in the micro-credit-based development initiative would break the financial discipline, Mr. Isaac alleged.

The Janasree Sustainable Development Mission was launched at the initiative of a section of Congress leaders in the State to aid grassroots-level development with the support of micro-credit from financial institutions. — PTI

Staff Reporter writes from Kochi: Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy said the campaign that the Janasree mission was an alternative to the Kudumbasree programme was aimed at misleading the people.

The mission would in no way hamper the work of Kudumbasree, Mr. Chandy said at the launch of Janasree. The erstwhile United Democratic Front (UDF) government attached great importance to the Kudumbasree mission, he said.

Mr. Chandy said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had not spent the money allotted for the Kudumbasree Mission only for the reason that the fund would not lapse.

This was no reason to justify the non-utilisation of the funds, he said.

M.M. Hassan, chairman of Janasree Mission, supported the views of Mr. Chandy.

The Janasree programme was open to even people above the poverty line and also to men, Mr. Hassan pointed out.

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