IT firms should give Internet market access to women: Clinton

Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu, Dec 1 (UNI) Former US President Bill Clinton today called upon IT companies in India to provide Internet marketing access to women self-help groups and individual entrepreneurs so that they could get higher percentage of profit without involvement of middlemen.

IT firms, which had been a part of building prosperity in urban areas, should come forward to contribute to development of rural areas too, Mr Clinton said after reviewing tsunami rehabilitation programmes at worst-hit Thazhanguda village, about seven km from here, in his capacity as UN Special Envoy for Tsunami Recovery.

''Today, India is producing more than half of computer software in the world. It will be a simple matter and a great gift if hi-tech centres provide internet marketing access for individual entrepreneurs or cooperatives. They can do it for them at virtually no cost,'' he said.

Asked about the announcement during his last visit that he would make efforts to create an international market for products made by SHG women, Mr Clinton said lots of women were producing incense sticks for Hindu temples. 'You can sell such products more here than in Queens in New York city. When you produce a product here, you can move it quickly within the country at a lower cost,' he pointed out.

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