Chennai: In an effort that could go a long way in alleviating the hardship of the self help group members the state government on Monday announced the “Amma Kaipesi” (mobile) scheme for the benefit of women self help group members. This scheme could win more hearts for Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.
Making a suo moto statement in the Assembly, Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa said under the scheme, free mobile phones with a special software would be provided to trainers of SHGs in the state. Amidst loud thumping of desks by the treasury benches she said in the first phase, mobile phones would be provided to 20,000 trainers at a cost of Rs 15 crore.
“The trainers have to maintain various registers regarding the functioning of the SHGs, including details about meetings, payment of subscription, internal credits, savings, payment of loans and other things,” she said.
The mobile phones would be loaded with a special software in Tamil to facilitate the storing of details and to monitor them easily. Recalling that women SHGs were established by her government in 1991 to eradicate poverty by financially empowering women, Ms Jayalalithaa said in 2005, her government started the Tamil Nadu new life scheme with the help of World Bank for the upliftment of the poor and women. As a result, women SHGs emerged as a big force and so far 92 lakh members were enrolled in 6.08 lakh SHGs all over the state.
Panchayat union level federations were formed to co-ordinate with SHGs and each federation has 20 to 25 SHGs under its ambit. Experienced members of SHGs were being selected as trainers and they were given the task of training new members and forming new groups, the Chief Minister added. This scheme is latest in the series of schemes launched after Amma Canteens, Amma Mineral Water and Amma Pharmacies and Amma cement.
