By Chandan Singh

Bangalore, May 6: The Women and Child Development Department has been given Rs. 1,347 lakhs since 2007 to build 111 marketing complexes for self help groups (SHGs) in the State. Replies to requests under the Right to Information (RTI) Act have shown that of these 111, only 18 have been completed. Of these 18 only six have been handed over to the government.

A marketing complex in Anekal awaiting inaguration Picture by: Chandan Singh

Further, an IIJNM investigation showed that one of these six, in K. R. Puram, Bangalore, exists only on paper. There is no marketing complex in K. R. Puram, even though the RTI reply says that it was completed and handed over to the government in 2007-08. The other in the Bangalore area, in Anekal, was completed in 2008 – 09 but lies unused and vacant, and is awaiting inauguration.

Members of state-run women’s SHGs say their success is hampered by the fact that there are not enough marketing complexes to support income generating activities. The Women and Child Development department in 2007 proposed marketing complexes that would help SHGs showcase their products and help women economically.

The Women and Child Development department proposed the first marketing complexes at a cost of Rs. 615 lakhs for 41 buildings. That year, 17 complexes were built, according to the reply to the request for information under the RTI. The next year, 2008 – 2009, the department requested an additional Rs. 550 lakhs for 46 more complexes. The state allocated Rs. 540 lakhs but only one marketing complex was completed that year, the RTI reply revealed. Despite this pending work, the department again requested for Rs. 750 lakhs the following year, 2009 – 2010, for the construction of 24 additional complexes.