After supplying a sizable number of candidates to the local bodies’ poll, Kudumbasree, the women Self Help Group (SHG), is demanding its pie from local bodies for employment generation.
The 1,072 Community Development Societies (CDS) of Kudumbasree will prepare their charter of demands aimed at creating 40,000 employment opportunities for women. The CDS charter, to be presented before the new local administrations, will demand role for its members in manning the front offices in all the local bodies and Seva Grams in all the wards.
Collection of advertisement tax in local bodies should also be assigned to the SHG members who would charge 25 per cent service tax. There would be a demand for setting up of permanent counters for marketing the 100-odd-products of women in all the local bodies, said a senior functionary of the SHG. Despite the State government asking the local bodies to engage women in front offices, only 50 of the 942 local bodies have complied with the order. Many local bodies have failed to devote 10 per cent of its plan fund for Women Component Plans (WCP) exclusively for women-friendly projects. In some cases, the funds were diverted for providing protein-rich food to be supplied at Integrated Child Development Projects, he said.
Striking a dissent note, C.P. John, a member of the State Planning Board, said the Kudumbasree should stop posing like a public sector company and evolve as a competent agency offering the best of the services and products.
While admitting that some instances of diversion of funds have come to his notice, Mr. John wanted the State government to enable the SHG to compete in the market and thrive. Kudumbasree should evolve and engage itself as a premium agency offering best services and products for it to survive. The WCP would account for around Rs.1.500 crore for the last four years, he said.
He said the CDS, which were listing out its missed opportunities due to the non-cooperation of the local bodies, would demand compensatory approach from the new local bodies.
CDSs’ will prepare their charter of demands aimed at creating 40,000 employment opportunities for women.
