Sthree Shakthi Bhavan construction needs fillip

Inspite of releasing ` 34 lakh, the work has remained incomplete, says Women and Child Welfare Deputy Director

The work on district Sthree Shakthi Bhavan at Bejai in Mangalore was started a year ago. However, the work is still in its initial stages.

The department of Women and Child Welfare had decided to construct a Sthree Shakthi Bhavan in the district headquarters in Mangalore, at Bejai, in  front of KSRTC bus stop, a year ago and accordingly, the work was started in December 2012.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Women and Child Welfare Deputy Director Gatrude Veigas said that the department had released Rs nine lakh and Zilla Panchayat had released Rs 25 lakh under Swarna Jayanthi Grama Swarojgar Yojana for the construction of the Bhavan. The work was entrusted to the Zilla Panchayat engineering division. However, the work is moving in a snail’s pace.

“Even after a year, the work on basement has been completed for parking facility. The basement covers 1,230 square feet area. As per the proposal, the ground floor will provide a platform for the sale of products produced by the SHG members. Even the MLAs and MP have promised to release additional amount required for the completion,” she said.

The State government had announced Sthree Shakthi Bhavans in every taluk and district, to provide a platform to facilitate self-help groups to market their products. The SHGs produce home made products including pickles, ‘sendige,’  ‘happala,’ phenyl, artificial jewellery and condiments. Without a permanent platform, they were finding it difficult to sell their produce. The  Stree Shakthi Bhavans will provide space for the members to display their products for sale, said Veigas.

Beside, it would have training centres and facilities for official work.
“Once the work on the Bhavan is complete, then we will write to the Women and Child Welfare department in Bangalore, seeking additional funds for constructing additional floors, to train women SHG members. If we submit fund utilisation certificate to our head office, they will release additional funds required. There is no shortage of funds with the department for the construction of the Bhavan,” she added.

“I had asked Deputy Commissioner to convene a meeting to discuss on the progress of the Bhavan. With the transfer of the Deputy Commissioner, there is a set back for the scheduled meeting. Now, will have to wait for the new DC to take charge,” she said.
The work on Manglore rural Sthree Shakthi Bhavan at Edapadavu is in progress. Initially, the government had released Rs 10 lakh.

“As we could not complete the work, the department has released additional Rs 12 lakh for the Bhavan.”

Taluk Sthree Skathi Bhavans in Puttur, Bantwal and Sullia are functioning well and are active.

“The SHG members exhibit their products and we also conduct our departmental meetings in the Bhavan along with imparting training to the SHG members,” said Veigas.