The Hindu 28.08.2009
Expo of urban SHG products begins
Staff Reporter
| Training in urban employment programme for members |
TIRUNELVELI: The two-day exhibition-cum-sale of products made by urban self-help groups and training in urban employment programme commenced at Arun’s Mahal, Palayamkottai, on Thursday.
Apart from SHGs in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin corporation areas, groups from 20 municipalities have also displayed their products at the expo.
Inaugurating the programme, Mayor A.L. Subramanian said the SHG movement, which was introduced in 1989, had transformed the living standards of the poor women in urban and rural areas.
As per the recently released new guidelines, the groups could be given 50 per cent subsidised loan up to Rs.3 lakh while individuals would get up to Rs.2 lakh with 50 per cent subsidy.
“Since the beedi rolling industry in Tirunelveli district, one of the predominant occupations in rural areas, is badly hit in the recent past, women should join the self-help groups to improve their living conditions and their income as well,” he said.
Slum-free city
The Mayor informed that steps had been initiated to transform Tirunelveli into a slum-free city with the government releasing Rs.8 crore of the total outlay of Rs.20 crore for this exercise. Moreover, eight community halls were to be constructed, each at a cost of Rs. 40 lakh, within Tirunelveli city.
Corporation Commissioner K. Bhaskaran, Regional Director for Municipal Administration T. Mohan and others spoke.
