The Hindu Business Line : Siri project: Empowering women through SHGs

IN its endeavour to make poor rural people self-reliant, Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project (SKDRDP) has taken up various programmes. Women empowerment through self-help groups (SHGs) is the objective of Siri Gramodyoga Samsthe, promoted by SKDRDP.

Under the Siri project, poor landless women are encouraged to take up various income-generation activities. This concept of women empowerment has been taken up under the guidance of Ms Hemavathi V. Heggade, wife of Mr Verendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala and Chairman of SKDRDP.

Under the Siri project, women SHGs are motivated, trained, and assisted in setting up various group ventures. These groups are given professional assistance in acquiring skills, finance, raw material procurement, production and marketing of the products.

Products under the brand name Siri have made significant inroads in the Dakshina Kannada market. Nearly 1,500 women coming under 200 SHGs in Belthangady taluk of Dakshina Kannada district are the mainstay of Siri.

Siri is not dependent on grants by the Government for carrying out its activities. Every SHG has contributed Rs 1,000 each, forming a capital base of Rs 22 lakh, for Siri. SKDRDP has also advanced Rs 9 lakh for Siri.

Dr L.H. Manjunath, Executive Director of SKDRDP, told Business Line that Siri is a viable economic venture by women SHGs.

At present, 17 SHGs manufacture readymade garments and three SHGs manufacture Rexene bags in the taluk. More than 215 women are involved in these groups. Readymade shirts, Rexene bags and pouches of these units have good demand in the local market.

Twenty-two SHGs consisting of more than 230 women have concentrated on food production activities. The product range has confectioneries, sweets and condiments.

More than 190 women in 23 SHGs produce fast-moving chemical items like detergent cakes and powders, phenyl, washing liquid, and scouring powder.

Apart from the production, SHGs under Siri have taken up marketing activities also. More than 60 SHGs market these products either through their outlets in various parts of the district or through door-to-door selling.

According to Dr Manjunath, 12 SHGs have opened sales outlets in Dharmasthala, Moodbidri, Belthangady, and other areas in the district. Other SHGs market Siri products through door-to-door selling, and some even participate in trade fairs in the district. Siri outlets also market terracotta water filters, dolls, fancy items, and vermi-compost produced by other SHGs under the SKDRDP.

With its resounding success in women empowerment, Siri Gramodyoga Samsthe is planning to increase the number of SHGs to 500 in the next three years.

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