Date:13/11/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/11/13/stories/2004111302500300.htm

Karnataka - Belgaum

Stree Shakti groups to get govt. loans

By Our Staff Correspondent

BELGAUM, NOV. 12. The State Government has decided to provide Rs. 50,000 as loan to each of the thousand women's self-help groups under the Stree Shakti programme.

Announcing this here on Friday, the Minister for Agriculture Marketing and district in-charge, Prakash B. Hukkeri, said the groups were functioning well and they were making rural women economically stronger and self-reliant.

The Government had decided to provide the loan in appreciation of their hard work and sincere endeavour on the eve of 51st All-India Co-operative Week to be inaugurated on November 14.

He announced the building of a girls' hostel for those studying in the tenth standard and above through the Department of Backward Classes and Minorities in Malmaruti Extension in the city.

To a question, Mr. Hukkeri denied pressuring cooperative societies in the district to contribute towards the inaugural event of the Cooperative Week. The Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, would be inaugurating the celebrations in the city.

He said the Federation of Cooperative Societies had promised about Rs. 5 lakhs for the celebrations and another Rs. 4 lakhs would come from the Board of Agriculture Produce Marketing Committees.

A sum of Rs. 15 lakhs was expected to be spent on the celebration.