Odisha transforming women SHGs into SMEs
The Hindu
Women empowerment is not a slogan, but a non-negotiable code for us: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik
After empowering 70 lakh women through the Self Help Groups (SHGs), the Odisha Government on Saturday announced to transform the SHGs into Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and turn them into vibrant financial hubs.
“In Odisha, six lakh SHGs are functioning. The objective of our government is to transform women SHGs into SMEs. We are prepared to run extra mile to make this happen and will do everything required for this,” asserted Odisha Chief Minister Patnaik addressing Make in Odisha conclave here.
“Mission Shakti is an initiative that started in 2001 is today a huge force of 70 lakh empowered women across Odisha. For my government, women empowerment is not a slogan. It is a non-negotiable code. I truly believe that no household, no society, no state and no country has ever moved forward without empowering its women,” he remarked.
To encourage entrepreneurship among women, micro and mini industrial parks will be set up in all 30 districts of Odisha and revolving fund to the tune of ₹1 crore each will be made available to every district level federation, ₹50 lakh for block level federation and special market and office space for panchayat level federation, Odisha CM announced.
The State government has already announced to provide interest-free loan up to ₹5 lakh to women and procure of ₹5,000 crore worth of goods and services from SHGs in five years
“Women have a huge role to play in transformation story of Odisha. Our government will always work for the holistic empowerment of women. The strength of SHGs lies in federating or in coming together. Our goal is to strengthen the federations further and turn them into vibrant financial hubs,” Odisha CM said.
Basanti Hembram, Mission Shakti Minister, informed, “During past five years, the interest subvention was to the tune of ₹500 crore. During next five years, the government aims to facilitate ₹50,000 crore of loan to women SHGs and the department aims to provide ₹1,200 crore towards interest subvention.”
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