HYDERABAD: Upset about poor formation of Self Help Groups (SHGs) in as many as 28 towns and cities, including the state capital, in the state, the Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA) has sought explanation from the project directors and deputy municipal commissioners over poor SHG formation. Even the SHG formation in Greater Hyderabad is pathetic with the percentage being about 51. Sircilla, represented by municipal administration and urban development minister KT Rama Rao too has not reported satisfactory progress in the matter with just about 35 per cent of the targeted number of SHGs formed.
The MEPMA issued instructions to the the project directors concerned to form SHG groups during the current financial year, which will end in about a month, in a drive mode through district mission coordinators and update the newly-formed SHGs by February 28.The MEPMA found that 28 ULBs’ progress in SHG formation is poor and ranges from 9 per cent to about 60 per cent and has not achieved the target set for them.
For Parkala, the target fixed is five but only one SHG was formed. In the case of GHMC, the target is 2,632 SHGs and only 1,348 have been formed so far.MEPMA officials said that empowerment of urban poor women, especially those residing in slums, is the main objective of MEPMA. Forming the urban women into SHGs and encouraging internal savings and internal lending as well as delivering micro-credit to them for undertaking entrepreneurial activity.
The objectives of the SHGs are to alleviate poverty, increase sustainability, reduce vulnerability and improve capacity building and overall development of the women members leading to the holistic empowerment of women, Forming the urban women into SHGs and encouraging internal savings and internal lending. Under the aegis of MEPMA 10-12 urban women form into SHGs.
Around 20 SHGs constitute one Slum Level Federation (SLF). A Town Level Federation (TLF) comprises 25 to 35 SLFs. MEPMA encourages internal savings and internal lending among the members.
About 12.6 lakh women formed into 1.20 lakh SHGs. The savings and corpus of 1.20 lakh SHGs is over Rs 475 crore. The savings and corpus of 3,958 SLFs is over Rs 75 crore while that of 97 TLFs is over Rs 2.50 crore. SHGs have been playing a key role in the uplift of women in various life skills training programmes.