Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday announced more sops to woo the women voters. Loans of Rs 1,000 crore will be provided to one lakh women self-help groups (SHGs) at an interest of 7 per cent. The interest rate for the loan will be 4 per cent in tribal-dominated and Naxalite- affected districts.
A decision to this effect was taken at a high level meeting presided over by the Chief Minister. Two members from each of the SHGs will be imparted training. The loan will be provided to the SHGs by organising Bank Coordination Day at the bank branch level.
The Chief Minister asked the Panchayatiraj department to work out a time-bound programme for the implementation of the scheme so that SHG members can take part in economic activities. It was decided that SHGs at the block and district levels will be reorganised to make them active.
Besides, 20,000 SHGs will be provided with a revolving fund of Rs 15,000 each under the Odisha Livelihood Mission (OLM) in 2013-14. It was decided that Rs 30 crore will be spent under the programme during the year. The SHGs having more than 70 per cent BPL members are provided assistance under the OLM.
sops for women
■ Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik took the decision at a high-level meeting
■ Two members from each SHG will be imparted training
■TThe loan will be provided to the SHGs by organising Bank Coordination Day at the bank branch level