Date:27/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/27/stories/2006102715340500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Trade unions to form federation of SHGs

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI : Leaders of trade unions expressed regret on Thursday that self-help groups, formed by trade unions, were not recognised and denied access to various government programmes.

They said that forming a federation of such groups would enable them to stake claim to these benefits and demand recognition.

A workshop was organised by the International Labour Organisation as part of its Workers Education Project. Representatives of unions felt that the lack of recognition and procedural delays in opening bank accounts for these SHGs in Tamil Nadu had to be addressed quickly.

They have resolved that national trade union leaders would make representations to the State and Central Governments and financial institutions to recognise and treat the SHGs formed by trade unions on a par with other organisations, said a statement from the ILO.