TN emerges as numerous uno state: Stalin

Madurai, Feb 20 (UNI) Tamil Nadu had emerged as 'numero uno' state in the country in extending concessions and grants to the women Self Help Groups (SHG), said State Minister for Local Administration and Rural Development M K Stalin.

Distributing revolving funds to the members of urban women SHGs here today, he said the DMK government took a lead in implementing various schemes for women empowerment.

Mr Stalin said the percentage of women chairmen and presidents in the local bodies in Tamil Nadu was about 33 per cent. The government was committed to 33 per cent reservation for women in assembly and parliament, he added.

The minister said the government had allocated Rs five crore for distribution of revolving funds to 5,000 urban women SHGs this year.

The scheme for women was launched by the DMK in 1989, to instil confidence in their minds, he added.

Stating that DMK was the only party that had fulfilled its election promises like rice per kg for Rs two, free colour television sets, financial assistance to the unemployed educated youths and free land for landless agricultural labourers, he said the government had also undertaken several schemes which remained unfulfilled during the previous regime.

He distributed revolving funds and welfare assistance to the tune of Rs 10.28 crore to about 26,514 beneficiaries in the district.

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