Udupi, Nov 01, 2015: Speaking after inaugurating a day-long training programme for women’s self-help groups (SHGs), organised by the district administration, Udupi District Consumer Disputes Redress Forum, and other organisations, here. Vinay Kumar Sorake, Urban Development Minister, on Oct 31, said that it was necessary to create more awareness about consumer rights among people. Minister Sorake said that the State government had given instructions to form Vigilance Committees for all fair price shops so that no irregularities in the implementation of the Anna Bhagya Scheme came about.
The intention of the scheme was to create a “hunger-free” State. Though there might have been some problems in the implementation of the scheme in some places, they were getting undue attention.
But the larger good of the scheme was not getting as much publicity. Veronica Cornelio, Chairperson of Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Ltd, said that the women’s SHGs in the district had a good track record in loan repayment.
The formation of SHGs had helped women to become financially independent. If women became more aware of their rights as consumers, they could use the information for the good of their families.