More jobs for SHGs in Kalaignar Housing scheme

More sustainable job opportunities will be created for self-help group members in the state to ensure regular income throughout the year.

Special opportunities would be created for SHG women during implementation of Kalaignar Housing Scheme (Kalaignar Veetu Vasathi Thittam) in the State, said K. Gopal, Managing Director, Corporation for Development of Women.

He was presiding over a review meeting held at the Collectorate here on Tuesday.

Special training will be imparted to SHG women for setting up of brick kiln and other building materials and on masonry and other construction work.

Besides, the corporation has plans to form new groups roping in agricultural labourers who registered their names under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

A whopping Rs.3,000 crore – economic grant of Rs.80,000 to each group, Rs.25 lakh to Rs.50 lakh to each SHG federation in rural areas – will be disbursed through nationalised banks to SHGs in the state as loan. Granting such massive funds to SHGs was to boost small industrial activities and enhance production of handicraft items.

Various marketing strategies will also be adopted for their products throughout the State.

Training programmes on diversified trades will also imparted to them to improve and modernise their income generation activities, he added.

While discussing with bank staff, Dr. Gopal advised bankers to show interest in disbursing more loans to SHGs. At the same time, SHG members too should pay much attention to repay the loan promptly.

50,000 more SHGs

The State Government has plans to form 50,000 SHGs in the state this year. “At present, we have 4.5 lakh SHGs comprising 75 lakh members in the State,” he said.

In Dindigul alone, 1,650 groups will be formed, revolving fund will be disbursed to 1,445 groups and economic assistance to 322 groups. Besides, credit linkage to the tune of Rs.75 crore will be offered to SHGs and training on skill development to 500 persons this year.

This target should be completed by October end, the Managing Director ordered.

Bankers, block development officers, NGOs and panchayat-level SHG federations should work together while chalking out development plans and strategies.

Such efforts will bring better results, he advised. Collector M. Vallalar, DRDA Project Officer K. Arunmani and N. Prema, Project Officer, (Women Development) accompanied him.