The Hindu Business Line : World Bank's pat for AP women SHGs

THE success story of women self-help groups (SHGs) in Andhra Pradesh has caught the attention of the world with the World Bank highlighting their achievements in transforming the lives of womenfolk in the rural areas.

The report entitled `World Bank-in India', released this month following the recent visit of its President, Mr Paul D. Wolfowitz to the State, highlights the interaction he had with members of the SHGs.

The report said that Mr Wolfowitz is determined to talk about his AP experience in Washington and other capitals. He is also keen that the Bank transfers the lessons of the AP women's SHG movement to other States of India as well as to other countries and regions.

During the course of an interaction with officials on Sunday, the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, observed that the compliments for AP's achievements should spur the entire official machinery into aiming for higher goals in achieving total women empowerment.

The Chief Minister directed officials to review periodically to ensure that the promised bank linkages reach the SHGs and adequate marketing support is provided so that the ongoing women empowerment movement further gains in strength.

Dr Reddy, in a statement, observed that the government is fully committed to strengthen women welfare. Top priority was given to redress the grievances relating to the womenfolk during Rajiv Palle Baata and Rajiv Nagara Baata.

The SHG movement concerns people particularly most un-empowered groups in the country and State such as widows, leprosy patients and those coming from the underprivileged section.

The Bank President visited Mushrifa and Kosigi in Mahboobnagar district where women clamoured to narrate their stories with a new-found energy and enthusiasm. The Bank President also had a separate discussion with select members of SHGs from across the State in Hyderabad.

The sheer scale at which the development work was taken up in the State can be gauged from the fact that "it is not one or two pilot projects or model villages but a State-wide phenomenon," the bank observed.

What has impressed the bank is not just that the women were earning more and giving their children a bright future but the fact that they came together for a common purpose.

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