Self-help groups must be formed for males: Brinda Karat

Barrackpore, Apr 8 (UNI) Rajya Sabha member and veteran CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat has urged the Union government to introduce self- help groups for males.

Addressing a huge women's gathering in Barackpore Municipal area here in North 24 Parganas here, Ms Karat observed that women in our society have become self-sufficient despite taking responsibility of their families.

At least 35 per cent of the women in our country became self- sufficient and supporting their families with their earnings.

''Women participating in self-help groups can train their male counterparts about running organisations is a better way devoid of corrupt practices,'' Ms Karat pointed out.

She also stressed on the need of collective responsibilities instead of individualism.

She also suggested to create a nodal agency like 'NABARD' which could work for the interest of the SHGs in the urban areas to get financial support from the Centre through a budgetory allocation.

Criticising Commercial bank's role in granting loans to the SHGs, Ms Karat alleged that in absence of any nodal agency certified by the Centre, Commercial banks had refrained from sanctioning loans to the SHGs in the urban areas.

Charging higher rates of interest in granting loans upto 15 per cent per annum, local MP Tarit Baran Topdar criticised the state government's role.

UNI XC JYN AKP/MSJ RK2140