The Hindu Business Line : NSS to invest Rs 160 cr for women’s empowerment

Kochi, Oct 15 The Nair Service Society (NSS), one of the leading NGOs in Kerala, is to enhance its investments in productive enterprises during the current fiscal to Rs 160 crore through women’s self-help groups.

Women SHGs are being promoted throughout the State in about 5,000 Karayogams as empowerment of women has, of late, become a thrust area of several NGOs for the economically backward society on the realisation that equipping and strengthening them could effectively uplift each family from impoverishment.

The efforts so far in this direction, by different NGOs by creating SHGs exclusively of women has been successful, officials of banks involved in micro-financing projects said.

Unemployment and economic backwardness coupled with ever increasing cost of living with high cost on education of children and health care has put majority of the people in serious hardship. Given this situation empowerment of women was found to be the best option to supplement the income of each family, Mr G. Sukumaran Nair, NSS Assistant Secretary, told Business Line.

He said that a new department was created aimed at coordinating the activities apart from developing a positive attitude among the community members towards self-employment by forming self-help groups, promoting saving habits, internal lending within the Groups, increase their credit absorption capacity from external financial institutions, develop entrepreneurship qualities, identification of micro enterprises, provide training and marketing support and thereby develop their social status, he said.

According to the NSS General Secretary, at present, 8000 SHGs of women are functioning under various Taluk Unions and this year it is proposed to se up 2,000 more such Groups increasing the total membership to two lakhs from the present 1.26 lakhs.

Each SHG has 15 – 20 members. They meet every week, collect thrift and issue loans and discuss social issues and try to find solutions to these issues, he said.

An Apex body, Mannam Social Service Society (MSSS), has been constituted at Taluk-level to co-ordinate the activities of the SHGs and to provide necessary support services. The MSSS will function as a facilitating agency for accessing assistance from various schemes implemented by Government through NGOs for the development of people.

Banking scheme

So far, Rs 25 crore has been mobilised as thrift and disbursed Rs 35 crore as loans among the members of the women SHGs, he said. Further, Rs 25 crore has been sanctioned to 4,000 SHGs by the Dhanalakshmi Bank under the linkage Banking Scheme for starting income generating activities.

The NSS, Mr Nair said, is also giving top priority for setting up of micro enterprises, availing the benefits under various government-sponsored Self Employment Programmes.

During 2007-08 under the Prime Minister’s Rozgar Yojana (PMRY) loans amounting to Rs235 lakhs were given in 17 Taluk Union areas. The activities taken up by the women members under PMRY are Dairy Units, Tailoring and Garment manufacturing, Catering, Book Binding and Paper Bag Units etc.

Under the scheme a Super Market for marketing the products of the SHGs nearby has been set up under in Changanacherry as a joint venture of local Karayogams and Women SHGs as a new initiative.

It is proposed to commence productive enterprises worth Rs 160 crore during the current financial year through the SHGs. Marketing support to these groups in identified locations will be provided under each Taluk Unions. Temporary or permanent Marketing outlets will be setup in such locations with the active support of local Karayogams, where the SHGs can utilise these facilities. Door to door delivery of the products will also be promoted.

More Stories on : Social Welfare | Gender | Kerala

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page