Consumer Awareness Programme (CAP) Launch Meeting
CUTS Centre for Consumer Action, Research & Training (CUTS CART) in association with Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Government of Rajasthan and with the support of CUTS CHD is implementing a Consumer Awareness Programme (CAP) in selected 20 blocks of 10 districts of Rajasthan.
CUTS CHD organised a launch meeting in Chittorgarh under the Project on April 07, 2007. The skills training programme for selected representatives of two blocks of Chittorgarh district was also clubbed with the launch meeting. The activities, which are to be conducted under the programme over a period of one year include: skills training programmes; consumer friends training; awareness campaigns on specific burning issues related to consumer protection; and awareness rallies.
In the launch meeting, Rajendra Singh Shekhawat, Additional Collector, District Information Officer of Chittorgarh, and G P Bohra, District Supply Officer (DSO) were the distinguished guests. Rajeenish Pitalia, Chandmal Garg and Prahlad Rai were the three lawyers who facilitated different technical sessions on Consumer Protection Act (COPRA) and other related laws. Hari Prasad Yogi and Gangadhar Solanki were the other two speakers in the sessions on advocacy and consumer rights.
Self Help Groups-Bhilwara
CUTS Centre for Human Development (CUTS CHD) organised the final Project Implementation and Monitoring Committee (PIMC) meeting on the Self Help Groups (SHGs)-National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) project at its Bhilwara office on April 05, 2007. The project is supported by NABARD, Bhilwara.
The NABARD-aided project on the formation of 200 SHGs in Mandalgarh and Banera blocks of Bhilwara district has been completed. Till date, CUTS CHD has been able to form successfully a total of 202 SHGs. The meeting was attended by H S Shekhawat, Assistant General Manager, NABARD; Akhilesh Vashist, Lead Bank Manager; G S Johri and B K Sen, Bank of Rajasthan; and K C Agarwal, Central Cooperative Bank. Amit Chowdhury, Madan Giri Goswami and Ganga Dadhich of CUTS CHD attended the meeting.
In the meeting, the two-year project on SHGs was reviewed. Initiatives taken by CUTS were appreciated. The work on micro-finance initiatives taken by government departments and CUTS were discussed in detail. The Committee felt that CUTS’ work has been more effective than those of other agencies. All the bankers present at the meeting decided to brief their higher authorities about the initiatives of CUTS with recommendations to start a partnership with CUTS on micro finance in the villages. The PIMC members recommended NABARD to continue the partnership with CUTS.
A new proposal on formation of 800 SHGs (400 each in Bhilwara and Chittorgarh districts) has been submitted to NABARD, Jaipur office. CUTS CHD discussed SHGs capacity building and training on livelihood opportunities in the PIMC meeting. It was felt that more work needs to done in this area.