Trade body reaches out to poor women

CHANDIGARH: Extending a helping hand to poor women from Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe families, the Baddi industries association has decided to help at least 40 in finding self-employment.
Speaking to The Times of India, CII's HP state council chairman Rajender Guleria said: "Out of these 40 women, 20 have already received training in tailoring from the state government's SC/ST Welfare Department.We have just taken the idea forward and identified 20 more women from Lodhi Majra village in the Baddi area. The sarpanch, too, been asked to help us in meeting the objectives of our programme. Together, we will help these women organise themselves into a self-help group (SHG) which will gradually move towards self reliance."
According to the plan, the industries association will provide the selected women space, training in tailoring, managerial support and equipment in the area. Guleria claimed he has written to member industries to give their staff's uniform stitching orders to this group only.
Initially, the industry will pool in around Rs 50,000-70,000 for the group. It will also help them open bank accounts. Once the group takes off financially, the association will help them secure bank loans for expanding operations.
HP has the highest density of SHGs with 30,000 such groups operating in the state. Various organisations associated with the micro credit movement in the state are being spearheaded by 775 bank branches and 37 NGOs.