The Hindu Business Line : Women SHGs play big role in Nilgiris tea quality

THE Tamil Nadu Government has expressed its satisfaction over the involvement of women self-help groups (SHGs) in the harvesting and procurement of quality tea leaves for processing by factories in the Nilgiris.

At a seminar on `Women SHG and tea quality upgradation in the Nilgiris' organised by the Tea Board and the UPASI Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) here on Monday, Mr L.N. Vijayaraghavan, Social Welfare Department Secretary, said a study of the 70 SHGs involved the scheme for tea procurement has shown that on account of quality factor, the price realisation for the growers has almost doubled in the last four years.

He distributed assurance bonds to assist 20 SHGs to the tune of Rs 20 lakh chosen among the 70 SHGs. Each SHG would get Rs 1 lakh for infrastructural improvement. He also distributed loans of Indian Bank worth Rs 17 lakh to 32 SHGs.

Expressing satisfaction over the functioning of the first phase of 70 SHGs involved in the work, Mr Vijayaraghavan, said that because of involvement of women in the procurement of tea leaves, the price realised by the growers has substantially increased. "This is because of the marked improvement in the quality of the leaf plucked. By now, small growers are realising almost double the price for the green leaves compared to four years ago," he said.

Mr N. Muruganandam, Executive Director of the TN Corporation for the Development of Women, urged the Tea Board and KVK to introduce means of other avenues such as floriculture and vegetable cultivation for the women SHGs involved in tea procurement.

He said that women SHGs were proving all over the State that they are capable of handling various business enterprises.

Observing that women SHGs elsewhere in the State had been focussing on small income programmes such as poultry and vegetable growing, he asked the Tea Board and the KVK to help the SHGs under their care to go for the cultivation of vegetables suitable in the Nilgiris. Mr Muruganandam promised financial assistance from his corporation for this scheme.

The Secretary General of UPASI, Mr Ullas Menon, pointed out that whenever quality tea leaves were supplied, the prices rose.

The Nilgiris Collector, Mr K.S. Muthuswaamy, said that prices have started improving for tea and the indications were that the rising trend would continue for some time. He said that in such a scenario, the women SHGs should be given the necessary assistance.

Mr S.N. Naik, Assistant General Manager, Indian Bank, Coimbatore circle, assured help for the women SHGs in respect of heath and education as well.

Mr A.S. Sundar, Chief Manager, State Bank of India, Coonoor, said that SBI was was promoting SHGs. In Ooty, it has extended Rs 1.5 crore for 200 SHGs. SBI now plans to help 200 SHGs in Kotagiri. Another 350 SHGs have also been identified for assistance in the Nilgiris. "We will be happy to extend all possible support to the women SHGs," Mr Sundar said.

He also said that the Kisan credit cards and the agricultural term loan schemes of the bank were well supported by farmers.

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