A "pioneering" government scheme meant to promote entrepreneurship among poor women in Karnataka is being used by politicians to promote their electoral base even as the men folk call the shots in ventures of beneficiaries,a study has revealed. In many districts,political leaders were using the scheme to build up their local 'vote-bank',exerting a lot of pressure on officials to identify candidates of their choice for benefits under the 'Udyogini' scheme,a popular credit linked employment generation programme,the study said. The scheme is spearheaded by the Women Development Corporation (WDC) functioning under the aegis of Department of Women and Child Development in Karnataka to help women don entrepreneurship roles with bank credit that have government subsidy component,and engage in income-generating activities. The study conducted by Prof. K G Gayathridevi and Prof S Erappa at the Bangalore-based think-tank,the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC) at the behest of WDC to understand the positive and negative aspects of the scheme,threw up interesting findings,an ISEC release said today. Carried out in eight districts and 23 taluks,the study found all decisions about the enterprise are still taken by male members of beneficiaries' families and husband/father/son managed the entire process in 99 per cent of the cases. All decisions about the enterprise are taken by male members,no doubt,said Prof. Gayathridevi and Prof Erappa. Yet,there is visibly better recognition of the women's identity since only they could become beneficiaries. The data also showed more than new enterprises being created,women (or rather their husbands) have utilised the loan amount to upgrade an existing unit It is also true that members of poor and backward house-holds were not forthcoming for availing these loans as interest rates of public sector banks are 'high' and there were strict rules for repayment,the study said. While the scheme was perceived by the women to be highly useful to them,it is clear that there is a need to improve the method of identifying the really poor based on income and other economic criterion as the programme,which has become a house-hold name,has failed to reach them,the study said. Suitable beneficiaries from among widows and deserted women who are in need of economic support have to be identified. The total loan sanctioned to each beneficiary ranged from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 but most of them have insisted that the amount is not enough in the face of the rising cost of materials and sought its enhancement to Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh,with like-wise increase in the subsidy component. The study suggested creation of appropriate marketing outlets for the products that are produced by the beneficiaries,and as far as possible 'women only' type of activities such as beedi rolling,mat and broom making,weaving,pottery and leather that need loan support have to be promoted. It was recommended that economic activities in which women applicants are already engaged in (either as family's traditional occupations or out of long association with them due to availability of raw materials and market) should be encouraged. More number of beneficiaries needs to be covered by the WDC,which should give preference to 'socially-handicapped' women such as widows,deserted women in selection,even as there is a need to enhance subsidy component,the study advocated.
