Special SHGs demand training and assistance : Madurai

The members of the newly-started special self-help groups (SHG) in Madurai district are demanding training and financial assistance from the district administration. Apart from couple of special SHGs by the differently-abled, others were started within a year's time. The members of the SHGs say they need training and guidance from the district administration to start their own business.

At present, most of SHG members have been selling finished products which are purchased from the wholesale market. The members are willing to enter into manufacturing of things and selling it directly to the consumers so that they can develop their business and earn good margin as profit.

R Mohanapriya of Madakulam, representative of Pennycuick special SHG by differently-abled persons said, "It has been six months since we have started our SHG. We have only received only Rs 10,000 as loan till now. Although we have plans to open a canteen, we do not have financial support to turn our dream into a reality," she said.

"There is a federation for SHG groups run by normal people. The federation would help the SHGs getting loans. Likewise, we need a federation managed by us to help ourselves. Once such federation is developed, we will get an amount to the tune of Rs 25 lakh, which can be used for all the SHGs," she said.

M Kamatchi, representative of Deepam Sakthi special SHG said that although they have been earning a decent income from their store by selling goods which are purchased from the wholesale market, they could not expand their income further. Had they been given training on manufacturing food products they would have augmented their income by and large from selling their own product, she said.

Expressing similar views, C Pooranam, representative of Jeyam special SHG said that district administration should provide special focus on the SHGs by differently-abled persons. There are hundreds of differently-abled persons in Madurai district, who are yet to get an opportunity to earn their livelihood. Measures should be taken to enrol them and guide them for better future, she said.

Source : T.O.I , 30th April 2013