2010-2011 - Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly

38
providing financial assistance to pregnant women, 19 lakh women
have received financial assistance to the tune of nearly Rs.1,000
crores at the rate of Rs.6,000 each over the last four years.
A sum of Rs.360 crores has been provided for this scheme in the
coming financial year. Further, with a view to enabling
pregnant women getting iodine which is very essential for
the development of the foetal brain, iodised salt will be
provided to them free of cost in all fair price shops through
Tamil Nadu Salt Corporation.
84. Under the scheme for distribution of free gas stove
and connection to those families who do not have the same,
17 lakh families have benefited at a cost Rs.381 crores so far.
A sum of Rs.140 crores has been allocated to benefit additional
six lakh families in the coming financial year under this scheme.
85. 1,11,728 new women self help groups comprising of
17.12 lakh women have been started over the last four years.
A sum of Rs.229 crores has been disbursed to 2.29 lakh of self
help groups as revolving fund. Moreover, as a result of the
tremendous efforts taken by this Government, self help groups in
Tamil Nadu were able to receive Rs.5,990 crores as bank loan.
In addition, 50,000 new self help groups will be formed in the
coming financial year. In view of the fact that only a small
number of women self help groups have been formed particularly
in urban slum areas, priority will be given for formation of self
Help groups consisting of women from the urban slum areas
in the coming financial year. Similarly, in rural areas, self
help groups will be formed from amongst the poor women
participating in the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural