HYDERABAD: Minister for women and child welfare, SHGs V Sunitha Lakshma Reddy on Sunday announced that only self help group members can take a final decision on selecting village organisation assistants (VOAs).
VOAs are meant to strengthen SHGs. In a press release here on Sunday, the minister informed that those working as animators, COs and CFs can be selected as VOAs.
Besides strengthening of SHGs, the selected VOAs should also monitor the functioning of the groups and extend cooperation to the members.
At a recent review meeting, a decision to pay honorarium to VOAs was also taken.
There is no intention of removing any of them from their jobs, she said.
Sunitha Lakshma Reddy further said that one VOA should be appointed for every 30 SHGs and that each of them should be paid a honorarium of Rs 1500 per month.
An additional Rs 1500 could be paid based on their performance, she said. An amount of Rs 3000 per month is the maximum amount fixed for a VOA and they should serve for a period of three years.
Their tenure could be enhanced further by the SHGs concerned if satisfied with their performance.
Eligible SHG women would be given priority in selection of VOAs.
She suggested to the VOAs not to interfere in the financial dealings of the SHGs and issues of micro finance.
