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Women SHGs scale new heights in Puducherry

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

HARD LABOUR: Women self-help group members exhibiting the products made by them at the State Bank of India, Agricultural Development Branch, in Puducherry on Sunday.

PUDUCHERRY: From making pickles to candles, artificial jewellery to handicrafts to running canteens and supplying provisions, women belonging to self-help groups (SHG) are racing ahead in terms of self-employability.

In the last few years, the women SHG movement has gained a lot of momentum in various parts of the Union Territory, especially in the tsunami-affected coastal areas. Increasing avenues coupled with adequate training has helped thousands of women in Puducherry to earn a livelihood.

With help coming from various quarters including banks and number of non-governmental organisations, the SHGs have been trained in manufacturing toys, making artificial jewellery, vermi-composting, incense sticks, woollen and jute products, screen printing, candle-making, tailoring and pickles.

At the State Bank of India, Agricultural Development Branch of Puducherry, around 1,200 women SHGs with 15 to 20 members each have been introduced to several livelihood opportunities.

“We have provided training to the SHG members in making artificial jewellery and manufacturing soft toys. We have provided loans for the groups to take up economic activity and many have started to make and sell artificial jewellery, toys,” Branch Manager of the bank R. Balaveni said.

The bank had provided stalls for the groups at the Farm Fest this year. The stall selling soft toys earned Rs. 8,000 a day, she said.

Utilising the opportunities, the women belonging to SHGs are happy with being self-employed, helping their families in their own small way.

“Our group is involved in preparing ragi powder, pickle, jam, jelly and chutney. We also make artificial jewellery and design sarees,” said Vijayalakshmi of Moogambikai SHG in Thilasupet under SBI.

Another group, Sri Bhavani SHG at Noonankuppam, prepares and packs rice, pulses and other cooking products for distributing to anganwadis in the area, while D. Sarala of Om Sakthi SHG, Pottupalayam, is proud of obtaining good sales for hand-made artificial jewellery.

HOPE, an NGO, has 59 SHGs with over 990 members from the tsunami-affected villages of Kalapet, Kanagachettikulam and Pillaichavady. “We have trained the groups in making areca leaf plates, jute bags, garments and candles. We are planning to train them in making products using banana fibre, disposable cups and paper bags,” Mary Victoria, programme coordinator of HOPE, said.

The Pondicherry Multipurpose Social Service Society (PMSSS) has trained its SHGs in basic skills of running a group, management skills and group dynamics. “We have 563 SHGs in coastal areas, of which 60 per cent are women groups. At an exhibition held recently, the SHGs sold products worth Rs. 1.5 lakh and procured orders for Rs. 1 lakh,” training manager of PMSSS M. Aloysius said.

However, many members emphasised the need for help from government for marketing and opportunities to exhibit the products in stalls.

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