K. Raghupati Bhat, MLA, said on Saturday that importance should be given to marketing the products manufactured by women’s self help groups (SHGs) and women entrepreneurs.
He was presiding over the inaugural function of the four-day exhibition-cum-sale of products manufactured by beneficiaries of Udyogini scheme, members of Stree Shakti SHGs and women entrepreneurs organised by the Karnataka State Women Development Corporation and Department of Women and Child Welfare, here.
Mr. Bhat said the Department of Women and Child Welfare should provide at least two vehicles in every district so that the products manufactured by the women’s SHGs and women entrepreneurs could be marketed. Every anganwadi should have a women’s SHG and if there are more women in an anganwadi more than one SHG can be formed. The department should inform the women’s SHGs about subsidised loans available to them.
A ban on plastic carry bags will come into effect in Udupi from September 15. This would provide an opportunity to the women’s SHGs to manufacture carry bags made of paper, cloth or other eco-friendly material. The Department of Women and Child Welfare should provide training to the women’s SHGs in manufacturing these eco-friendly carry bags, Mr. Bhat said.
Inaugurating the exhibition, president of Udupi Zilla Panchayat K. Shankar Poojary said the SHGs had improved the economic status of the women and made them independent.
Sadananda Naik, Child Development Project Officer, welcomed the gathering. Rita Madtha, Deputy Director of Women and Child Welfare Department, K. Subba Rao, Lead District Bank Manager, and B.G. Navaratnacharya, Dewan of Bhandarkeri Math, were present.
