The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Reduction in allocation has affected SHGs: Motamma

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Friday, Apr 08, 2011
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Reduction in allocation has affected SHGs: Motamma

Special Correspondent

‘Their number has reduced from 1.75 lakh to one lakh in five years'

— Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative

BANGALORE: Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council C. Motamma here on Thursday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Government is apathetic to strengthening the Stree Shakti Self-Help Groups (SSSHGs) and demanded allocation of more funds for their rejuvenation.

Participating in a State-level Conference of Voluntary Organisations and International Women's Day organised by Karnataka State Social Welfare Board, she regretted that Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa had earmarked a meagre Rs. 2 crore for rejuvenation of SHGs, whose number was dwindling by the day.

The number of SHGs had reduced from 1.75 lakh to one lakh in the last five years. Over 33 lakh women are actively involved in SHG activities, as former Chief Minister S.M. Krishna had earmarked Rs. 200 crore to strengthen them.

“Now with the drastic reduction in allocation of funds during the regimes of H.D. Kumaraswamy and Mr. Yeddyurappa, the number of SHGs has dropped significantly,” she said.

Underlining the need to rejuvenate SHGs, she said that a mechanism had to be created to help SHGs to rotate the savings for making the women self-sufficient by envisaging economic activities for the members, as the accrued savings of SHGs of Rs. 900 crore was lying idle for the past few years.

Criticising the BJP Government for distributing saris to the beneficiaries of Bhagyalakshmi scheme, she said had the Government extended economic support to conduct small business that would have helped them in becoming independent.

Pointing at the tendency of suicide among young married women in the recent days, she noted that it was necessary for parents to instil confidence in their girl child from a young age and prepare them to face the challenges being posed by a liberalised society.

She appealed to the Chief Minister against opening day care centres in places where anganwadis are working effectively.

She urged him to ensure supply of food material at a concessional rate. She suggested the opening of short stay homes for women where there is no family counselling centre to reach benefits to women in distress.

Chairperson of Central Social Welfare Board Prema Cariappa was present.

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