ZP to set up 30 work sheds for SHG members

The Zilla Panchayat has proposed to construct 30 National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) work sheds as a means to strengthen and provide greater financial support to the women’s self-help groups in rural areas.

Speaking to DH, Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr M R Ravi said that the work sheds will be constructed through funds available under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). The workers will be trained through the National Rural Livelihood Mission.

“The self-help groups did not have common place to carry out their activities. The work sheds will help in promoting distinct economic activities. Some of the SHG members have been trained in preparation of Ayurvedic and herbal medicines. Through the common work shed, an exclusive herbal medicine production centre will be opened in Balpa, in an effort to empower rural women,” said Dr Ravi.

As marketing of the products is a challenge, the Zilla Panchayat is planning to link the SHGs to some government departments and cooperative sectors where the products are in demand. This will assure them of the market and income.

The SHGs will also be linked them with the local banks. The Zilla Panchayat will tie up with certain agencies, to check the quality of the products of the SHGs scientifically. This will help the SHGs to sell the produce in the competitive market as well, said the ZP CEO.

The officer stated that the work sheds will be in buildings covering an area of around 1,500 square feet, and with toilets, kitchens and rooms for the activities. The estimated cost of the 30 work sheds is Rs 398.24 lakh, which comprise Rs 58.38 lakh for payment of wages and Rs 339.87 lakh to procure materials.

A total of nine work sheds will come up at Bantwal taluk, at Rayi (tailoring, pickle preparation activities), Dhanupooje (ready made garments and areca sheath plate manufacturing), Neralakatte (garments, tailoring, and pickle preparations), Narikombu (fancy shop, tailoring training, hotel, ready made garments, pickle, ghee, wick, sambar powder preparation), Dasakodi (tailoring, chicken rearing, phenyl preparation, broomstick manufacture), Sangabettu (phenyl, soap, and soap water preparations), Idkidu (leather bag manufacturing), Arala (phenyl preparation).

The six work sheds that will come up at Belthangady are Laila, Naravi and Kalanja (phenyl preparation, soap, liquid soap preparation), Balanja (sale of clothes, fancy shop, phenyl preparations), Kashipattana (basket making, hollow blocks preparations), Charmadi (hotel).

The nine work sheds will come up at Mangaluru taluk are Moodushedde (phenyl, soap, liquid soap, cloth bag preparations), Aikala (canteen, pickle preparations), Valpadi (phenyl, soap, liquid soap), Paduperara (farming, shop, tailoring, dairy farming, happala preparation), Elathooru (hotel, dairy farming, tailoring, embroidery), Pavoor (fish, vegetable sale, preparation of pickle, bakery items), Uliya (beedi, fish sale), Gurpura (tailoring, phenyl preparations), Edapadavu (tailoring, phenyl, soap preparations).

Three work sheds in Puttur will come up at Beeriga (phenyl, soap powder preparations), Kadaba (bag, fancy bangles preparations), Perabe (phenyl, soap, cloth bags).

The work sheds in Sullia will be at Balpa (oil for joint pain, dairy farming, tailoring), Subrahmanya (tailoring, sale of cucumber) and Amaramudnooru (shamiyana, catering, apiculture).