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Women Welfare / Development

Expo of urban SHG products begins

Friday, 28 August 2009 04:45 administrator
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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.

Last Updated on Friday, 28 August 2009 04:46
 

“Self-help groups creating a revolution in State”

Wednesday, 26 August 2009 05:25 administrator
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The Hindu 26.08.2009

“Self-help groups creating a revolution in State”

Special Correspondent

— Photo: G. Moorthy

MONEY MATTERS: S. Sebastine (second from left), Commissioner, Madurai Corporation distributing loans to members of self-help groups in the city.

MADURAI: Self-help groups were creating a revolution in Tamil Nadu and their success had prompted other States to emulate them, said the Chairman and Managing Director of Indian Bank, M. S. Sundara Rajan, here on Saturday.

Addressing an ‘SHG Credit Bazaar’ organised by the Indian Bank, Mr. Sundara Rajan was happy that the seed (SHG movement) sown in Dharmapuri had now grown into a huge banyan tree. The Indian Bank, he said, was the first bank in the country to start an exclusive branch for SHGs in 2005. Its success led to the opening of 27 such branches in the last two years.

These exclusive branches had advanced loans to the tune of Rs 400 crore to benefit 1.56 lakh SHG members. The objective of such a high scale lending was to improve the status of women through SHGs. While pointing out that the recovery rate among the SHGs was 98.5 per cent, Mr. Sundara Rajan advised the women SHGs to have a better profit margin for their products, instead of selling them at cost price. The Indian Bank, he said, would organise an expo to showcase the products made by women SHGs in Madurai.

Inaugurating the SHG Credit Bazaar, the Corporation Commissioner, S. Sebastine, said that the civic body was keen to improve the basic facilities for its citizens. The second Vaigai drinking water project, expected to be commissioned by the end of this month or the first week of September, would meet the drinking water needs of the city.

A scheme to facilitate easy flow of storm water in 11 channels had been taken up to cover a distance of 800 km. New bins were being provided to the residents for segregation of waste at source, Mr. Sebastine said and urged the SHG members to make people realise that waster should not be dumped in the open. He lauded the Indian Bank for its unique performance in SHG lending, which was an example for other banks to emulate.

The Deputy General Manager, M. Kathiresan, said the bank had forwarded assistance to the tune of Rs 69.46 crore to 6228 SHGs in the Madurai Circle. The Microsate Branch (for SHGs) here had advanced Rs 7.84 crore as assistance to 874 SHGs in the last four months. Mr. Sundara Rajan distributed Rs 1.46 crore as assistance to 103 SHGs on the occasion. S. Dushyanthan, Branch Manager, proposed a vote of thanks. A blood donation camp organised to mark the 103rd Founding Day of the bank was inaugurated by S. M. Sivakumar, Dean (in charge), Government Rajaji Hospital, at the Microsate Branch. An automated teller machine of the bank was opened at the Subramaniaswamy Temple, Tirupparankundram, by the Police Commissionerr, K. Nandabalan.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 26 August 2009 05:26
 

Woman-centric cancer centre in city

Tuesday, 25 August 2009 09:17 administrator
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The New Indian Express 25.08.2009

Woman-centric cancer centre in city

CHENNAI: A woman-centric cancer centre, Penn Nalam, an initiative by the Sri Dhanvantri Trust, was inaugurated by Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, V K Subburaj on Monday.

Also, an awareness campaign undertaken by the organisation, which includes prevention, counselling and treatment, was launched by Sarojini Varadappan, Padma Bhushan recipient.

According to a recent survey, in Chennai alone the incidence of breast cancer is about 30.4 persons per one lakh population and the incidence of cervical cancer is about 18.9 persons per one lakh population.

Subburaj said that it was very important to get the disease detected at the earliest. The main reason for cancer is alcohol intake, which badly damages the liver.

Exposure to pollution, radiation and lifestyle changes are some of the main reasons for cancer. He said that cervical cancer does not occur in women suddenly, it develops over a period of 10 years. More than 80% of women come for treatment only during the last stages, when it becomes difficult to be cured. In a study done, it was noted that only 6% women living in urban areas come for screening and in rural areas it is only 3%.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 25 August 2009 09:20
 
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