State Level Federation for Women SHGs Will Be Created in Next 12 Months: Mission Shakti Secy

Bhubaneswar: As per the order of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, a State Level Federation for women self-help groups (SHGs) will be created in the 12 months to further accelerate the scope of socio-economic empowerment of women in Odisha, informed Mission Shakti Secretary Sujata R Karthikeyan.

The Mission Shakti Secretary said that the Federation will provide great support to the ongoing of SHG movement in the State.

The Federation will encourage participation of women in the decision making, she said.

In order to strengthen the livelihood initiatives, thousands and thousands of SMEs have been targeted to be set up this year, the Mission Shakti Secretary said.

The women SHGs have received credit support to the tune of Rs 6800 crore. The State Government has decided to provide Rs 9000 crore loan to them this year and targets to provide bank credit worth Rs 50,000 crore in the next five year, she said at the orientation programme of the newly-elected members of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI).

Explaining about the marketing support to the self-help groups, she said that as many as 500 Mission Shakti Bazaars will be created in the next three years. The products made by the SHGs will be sold in the abroad. 500 Mission Shakti Cafes will also be set up in the blocks for the marketing of delicious foods made by the SHG members, she said.

The women SHG members will be imparted linemen training next year, she added.

With its commitment to empowerment of women at all levels, the Odisha Government has made it an essential point to involve SHGs as implementation partners in many of its developmental projects at the grassroots level under the aegis of Mission Shakti.