Shree Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) is looking to set up more than 1,100 self help groups (SHG) in the district in the coming year. Addressing reporters here on Tuesday, T. Sampath Kumar, director of the project, said the addition of 1,167 SHGs in Dakshina Kannada this year will take the total of such groups across the district to 20,927.
Over 2,78,671 groups in the district rely on financial and training support from the organisation.
“We plan to distribute nearly Rs. 525 crore as Pragati Nidhi (micro-credit loans for the groups) in the district,” said Mr. Kumar, adding that nearly 23,567 members of such groups will be given technical training. The organisation has said it would train 301 members of the Pragati Bandhu scheme (mini-groups of farmers that work in the fields in rotation to solve problems of labour shortage) in the cultivation of crops such as rubber, jasmine and areca, among others. It would also install solar electronic devices in 845 homes and provide bio-gas to 466 houses in the district.
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Awareness about various issues will play a big part in SKDRDP’s activities for the coming year. It plans to take 46 SHG members on study tours, organise programmes for civic sense development women’s empowerment and health, environment campaigns and anti-alcoholism campaigns among others, said Mr. Kumar.