Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin launched the ‘Sudar Oli’ brand of products made by self-help groups from 19 town panchayats in five tsunami-affected coastal districts of the State, here on Tuesday. The products include sanitary napkins, kora craft, talypot fibre craft and bamboo craft items. The products have been given a common brand name and symbol. According to D. Rajendran, Director, Town Panchayats, the State government has so far sanctioned about Rs.12.44 crore for alternative livelihood programmes for poor women in the affected town panchayats under the Tsunami Emergency Assistance Project with the support of the Asian Development Bank
At a brief function here, Mr. Stalin launched the marketing of the products and handed over the sets of products of M. Poongothai, Joint Director of Health, Tiruchi, and S. Jayakumar, Assistant Director, TN Khadi and Village Industries Board.
He distributed certificates to 102 members of the self help groups who had undergone skill development training, sponsored by the State Government, at the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai. The government had contributed Rs.38.62 lakh for the purpose. He also distributed bio-metric identity cards to SHG members. The cards are being issued to about 26,720 SHGs under a project sanctioned at a cost of Rs.13.72 lakh. Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment D. Napoleon, Transport Minister K.N. Nehru and Forest Minister N. Selvarajwere present.
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