SAMATHUVAPURAM
SAMATHUVAPURAM AND WOMEN’S SELF HELP GROUPS TO PROMOTE SOCIAL EQUALITY AND DEVELOPMENT
Whenever the DMK is in power, it takes up infrastructure works along with social
development to ensure wholesome growth of Tamil Nadu, according to the Deputy
Chief Minister M.K.Stalin.
Inaugurating a Periyar Samathuvapuram at Theevattipatti near Salem on 26th October, he pointed out that without social development, growth would not be complete. “Hence the Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi, while ensuring an all-round development, simultaneously ensures fillip to social sectors too.”
Saying that it is the Chief Minister who has been taking relentless efforts to make the dreams of Periyar and the vision of his mentor and DMK founder leader C.N.Annadurai, a reality, Mr. Stalin underscored the inherent need for setting up Samathuvapurams (habitations of equality) which would usher in a casteless society.
This lofty endeavour should make one to identify oneself first as a human being and then a Tamil and not by caste. An egalitarian society would ensure peace and inclusive growth.
Tracing the Self Help Group movement to Periyar’s first Provincial Self- respect Movement Conference, Chengalpet which had declared that women should be made economically independent, he said this had prompted Mr.Karunanidhi to float the movement in the State in 1989. “Now I am proud to say it has grown into a big tree with disciplined members.”
When Thiru M.Karunanidhi became the Chief Minister in 1996 the scheme of Samathuvapurams was started and the first Samathuvapuram was declared open in 1997 and 145 Samathuvapuram were created before 2001. After the DMK came to power in 2006, the Government declared in 2008 that 95 more Samathuvapuram would be created denoting the 95th age of Periyar. 8 Samathuvapuram have been declared open so far and 21 more would be completed before the end of December, 2009. 30 Samathuvapurams would be created during 2009-10 and 36 more in 2010-11.
At present there are 87,039 Women’s Self Help Groups in Tamil Nadu and they were provided with bank loans to the tune of Rs. 4,188 crores . Nearly 20 percent of loans was given in Tamil Nadu alone against the total loans sanctioned at National level. These WSHGs in Tamil Nadu have repaid almost 99 per cent of loans received by them during the previous years.
Thiru M.K.Stalin, the Deputy Chief Minister is very keen in the well functioning of these WSHGs. He is giving all sorts of encouragement, assistance and guidance to these groups.
