‘Freebies announcement of political parties creates doubt as it does not have inclusive approach of Development’, –a SHG member, Villuthuhal

Photo: A SHG woman, Bakiyalakshimi in Srirangam constituency expressed her happiness for receiving welfare packages from the ruling  Government for the past years but the’ ‘Freebies announcements again and again creates doubt in their mind for its reach as it does not inclusive component of Welfare and Development.

Trichy, 10, April: Bakiyalakshimi said that the colour televeion,gas stoves are not simple freebies but it has integration with long term development projects for the quality of life of improvement of poor and down trodden especially the women SHG members. It is time to gain dignity to strengthen SHG Movement as fifth estate of India as visualized by Deputy Chief Minister, M.K.Statlin. It is okay to receive freebies at times of crisis and SHGs cannot digest the sheer freebies promises of AIADMK party cannot develop the women SHGs, instead of Business to Self Help Groups as inclusive component of development process, implemented by the ruling DMK. ‘Freebies announcement of opposition parties create anguish among SHGs, as SHGs believe that development is not providing but promoting the poor’-Self Help Groups did not take pleasure in the move of political parties to influence voters with freebies, development experts strongly express their dismay about the strategy adopted by political parties to tempt voters by offering freebies as gift for votes. Most Federations of Self Help Groups opined that the freebies promised and already given is additional burden for citizens and they need to pay tax in different form for the fresh freebies assured/already given by both the ruling and opposition parties. The elite Self Help Groups come to realize their own difficulties in the development of their community and try to solve them by collective participation following an order of priority and taking their potentiality into account. It is well known to you all that recognizing one's problems and striving hard to challenge them is a mark of an attempt at self-sufficiency. Self help in the benefits to be acquired through education will save the individual from expecting freebies. Let us work out our own programmes in all fields - political, economic, social and military. Man's contributions which live to influence the life and progress of posterity are the most permanent monuments that can ever be created. It is raining promises of freebies in Tamil Nadu polls. AIADMK chief J. Jayalalithaa Thursday exceeded her arch rival DMK's promises to the voters in a bid to win the April 13 assembly polls. Jayalalithaa has promised freebies ranging from free laptops to students, fans, grinders, mixies, rice, housing plot, cash assistance for students, free water and many other things, outdoing the DMK. Her promises were released while filing her nomination papers for election. To attract women voters, Jayalalithaa promised a free fan, grinder and mixie. She said her government would increase the maternity leave to six months and give a cash allowance of Rs.12,000. She also promised increase in loan assistance for self-help groups to Rs.10 lakh, of which Rs.250,000 will be a subsidy. The AIADMK boss also promised half a sovereign gold for 'mangalsutra' for poor women getting married, and for women who have completed diploma education the marriage assistance will be increased to Rs.50,000. Jayalalithaa said her government would build a green house on three cent land to below-poverty-line (BPL) families at an outlay of Rs.180,000 per house. She also promised extension of the scheme for the four million strong middle class with a subsidy of Rs.100,000. She also promised 20 kg free rice monthly and 20 litres of water daily. The DMK has promised 35 kg free rice monthly. For those who do not own land, Jayalalithaa promised allotment of three cents land for construction of house, and some action in favour of those who have borrowed housing loan from cooperative societies. SHGs did not believe in promoting freebies to garner votes "disapproved and discouraged this practice and parties should not underestimate voters" by trying to woo them with a long list of freebies. Many have-nots continue so, because they accept freebies not challenges. The voters who place his/her own short-range ambitions ahead of the long-range interests of the self help development approach have embarked on a course which will ultimately result in the dissolution of the self help development itself. It is by the understanding of past difficulties that we can bequeath fundamental guidance which would be of pride to the coming generations we therefore urge our people to struggle and to make sacrifices for those things which will enable them to ameliorate their conditions of life and leave a richer heritage. The fundamental purpose of a community development movement is to teach the rural people of Our Empire that through cooperative self-help and a united approach to common problems, the vast potential for their own self-improvement which they themselves represent, can be translated into effective programmes which can do much to improve their standard of living. Where enterprise and initiative are not lacking, the pace at which the growth of a country's economy normally proceeds can be quickened or slackened by global developments far or near. In our effort to raise the living Standard of our beloved people, in our endeavour to bring prosperity to our country, the feeling of cooperation and understanding has always characterized our people. A special case is the recent development through Self Help Groups where the people are seen voluntarily raising funds to build schools, clinics, roads and similar other projects under self help approach (Namakku Na mea). What can give one more pleasure than to see such a measure of self-help in one's life time, for the prosperity and progress of her own community? One should realize that thriftiness is the basis for the accumulation of wealth and the economic growth of a nation. One seldom minimizes the value of money earned by the sweat of the brow however small it may be, but for the extravagant even a huge amount of money is worthless. 

The same SHG  woman expresses her anguish and dismay for the repeated assurances of too many freebies by political  parties for 2011.How come SHG movement flourish?.photo

The Self Help Group movement has long been known, and we our self have on numerous occasions urged our people to join increasingly in self Help group enterprises. Self HELP Groups play a highly important role in the growth of our economy, and no time can be lost in availing ourselves of the benefits to be derived from them for Community Development. The fundamental purpose of a community development movement is to teach the rural people that through self-help and a united approach to common problems, the vast potential for their own self-improvement which they themselves represent, can be translated into effective programmes which can do much to improve their standard of living. Lasting progress can only be built on deep and enduring foundations. When a solid foundation is laid, if the mason is able and his materials good, a strong house can be built. To develop oneself, one has to develop one's own initiative and perseverance - a man has to strive in order to grow. She respects  the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s view expressed on  Saturday in Coimbatore reposing his  faith in the wisdom of the people of Tamil Nadu – that they would vote the alliance, led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), to power in the April 13 Assembly elections and will not be misled by “false” promises from the rival camp and his statement that  many far-sighted schemes implemented by the government headed by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had turned Tamil Nadu into a model State in many ways, especially in rural development and agrarian transformation.Dr.Singh said “Recently, I saw a report by a group of economists that ranked Tamil Nadu as the number one State of India.. My Government in New Delhi has greatly benefited from the cooperation extended by our allies in Tamil Nadu. We in the Congress party are proud that leaders from Tamil Nadu are taking our country forward.”She is highly impressed about the expression of Prime Minister of India “Our government is committed to improving the status of women. Such schemes have now become universal. Tamil Nadu is in a sound financial state with strong fiscal position than most other State governments,”-EtNS.