Port Blair, March 7: A meeting of the Self Help Groups and women handicapped persons was organized by UNNATI and Vidyasagar jointly at 3 p.m on 07.03.2010 at Vallurnagar Community Hall in Bambooflat area on the eve of International Women’s Day. 

 

The President, UNNATI speaking on the occasion said that our society being man-dominated even after enactment of various legislation for social and political empowerment of women, the actual benefits do not reach to the women folks. This is mainly due of lack of awareness among the women. 

 

He cited the cases of various schemes where the women could not take full advantage of the schemes like Swayam Sidha/ Rashtriya Mahila Kosh scheme that aims at holistic economic empowerment. Under Swayam Sidha assistance for self-employment and under Rashtriya Mahila Kosh, New Delhi for micro-credit UNNATI arranged direct credit facilities to Self Help Groups after taking up matter with Rashtriya Mahila Kosh at 8% interest but unfortunately no Self Help Groups took advantage of the Rashtriya Mahila Kosh credit directly. Therefore now Rashtriya Mahila Kosh decided to channalise to credit to Self Help Groups through NGO at higher rate of interest.

The President further said that there is reservation of quota for women and handicapped persons in all poverty alleviation programme including NREGA. Govt. is reserving quota under various schemes for women and handicapped person and now Govt. is moving towards providing one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha because in Indian political system, corruption is so prevalent that no women will come forward without reservation. He further said 73rd and 74th amendment stands as landmark with regard to political empowerment but the main hurdle is lack of awareness about many schemes/programme for which Social Welfare Department need to organize massive awareness campaign at Village and Panchayat Level. Moreover healthy and well adjusted adolescent girls of to-day will become productive and dynamic women of tomorrow. But most of the adolescent girls are not healthy or well adjusted. Poor information and skills, lack of safe supportive environment, early marriage threaten the health and lives of girl adolescents. 

 

Further majority of women in our country are undernourished. 7 out of 10 women have anemia which makes prone to infection and disease. A continuous health education awareness programme is also considered necessary. Self Help Groups can ensure the following in the village: 1. Girls in their village get married only when they attain the age of 18 years. 2. the daughter in every family get affection, respect care food and love. We should start from our own family and be a role model and motivate other women of the village. 3. Self Help Groups may also invite officials of Health, Social Welfare, Rural Development and other departments in Self Help Groups meeting for empowering themselves about various schemes which are benefiting the women. 4. President, UNNATI also explain about the ill effects of tobacco therefore, Self Help Groups should also join hand with Administration and NGO for fighting against the use of tobacco in these Islands. Shri. Prabakaran, Representative from Vidhyasagar also explained about various schemes under which the women and handicapped person can take advantage.