Mysuru: As part of its efforts to make women financially independent, the central government formed self-help groups (SHGs) under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Urban Livelihood Mission (DAY-NULM). In Mysuru, as many as 30 SHGs were established, with the women in these groups being tasked with manufacture of products that are used in majority of households on a daily basis. However, most of these SHGs have run into rough weather financially, and in a bid to help them tide over the crisis, the standing committee on health, education and social justice of the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) Council has suggested purchasing products manufactured by the women.Among the products prepared by the women in these SHGs are incense sticks, bakery products, pickels, papads, dolls, soaps and ornaments. These products are sold at attractive prices, significantly lower than the average rate of these goods on the retail market. MCC has taken all these factors into consideration, and decided to help improve the stock of the SHGs by purchasing the products manufactured by the women.Sources in the MCC privy to the developments said that the members, and those administering the SHGs were actively involved with many of the MCC’s initiatives including making it open-defecation free (ODF). “But, we realised that the groups were facing many difficulties in selling their products. The SHGs have a great track record as far as utilisation of funds is concerned. So, the members of the standing committee on health, education and social justice decided to help the SHGs by purchasing their wares,” said a source.KH Jagadeesh, who until Saturday was the MCC commissioner, told TOI that the proposal to purchase wares made by the SHGs in Mysuru would be examined by the MCC Council before a final decision on the subject was taken.

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