UK Govt launches project for Indian SHGs

Puducherry, Nov 24 (UNI) Director of the British Council (South India) Chris Gibson today launched the UK government's first project in India for improving livelihood security of women Self Help Groups (SHGs) engaged in livestock rearing.

At a function organised at the Rajiv Gandhi College of Veterinary and Animal Science near here, Mr Gibson handed over the documents relating to the launching of the project to Puducherry Chief Secretary Pradeep Mehra, who was the Chairman of the governing council of the college.

Later, addressing a meeting of the officials of the college, Mr Gibson said the department for international development of the British government was funding the project which would be implemented in Puducherry and four other south-Indian states to eradicate poverty.

The project involved an outlay of 67,000 pounds, approximately Rs 57 lakh. He claimed that the project was a reflection of the UK government's global commitment to fight poverty in keeping with the United Nations millennium development goals.

He said the Indian and the U K government were jointly carrying out a number of projects to find solutions to the problems of common concern. Science had no boundaries and both the countries had a strong track record of working together through research programmes, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Mehra said the project would benefit SHGs. The animal husbandry sector would also make a substantial contribution to the GDP growth, he added.

UNI PAB SAM BST1833