Bhubaneswar: With an aim to convert women self-help groups (SHGs) into MSEs, the State Government has facilitated business worth Rs. 4949 crore to the SHGs in convergence with 20 Government departments.
This was informed by Minister Basanti Hembram, Mission Shakti Secretary Sujata R Karthikeyan here on Saturday. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today reviewed the performances of the Mission Shakti Department and implementation of promises made in Election Manifesto 2019.
The Department of Mission Shakti has 7 million women organised into 6 lakh Self Help Groups (SHGs).
Powered by the Cabinet decision to provision Government goods and services worth Rs. 5000 crores from SHGs, Rs.4949.14 crore worth of government business has already been facilitated in convergence with 20 departments, she said.
Convergence guidelines have been prepared to incentivize the role of SHG in different schemes. This has created opportunities for more than 1 lakh SHGs and enhanced their economic standing by generating a cumulative income of Rs. 1226 crore in the last 4 years. As many as 11008 clusters have been promoted under different livelihood sectors, the Secretary said.
For the first time in the history credit flow to SHGs has crossed Rs. 11,000 crore in 2022-23. This is a quantum leap over a period of 8 years, she said.
The credit flow has been increased 19 times over a period of 8 years (2014-15 to 2022-23), Shrimati Karthikeyan said.
Maa Santoshi Maa SHG, Jaleswar, Balasore district has availed SHG credit linkage amounting to Rs. 40.9 lakh so far for manufacturing of mudhi & dairy farming. Today, with the help of bank finance and Department support, they have average monthly earnings of Rs.40,000, she pointed out.
The Secretary further said that the average loan size of SHGs has also seen a big jump from Rs. 1.06 lakh in 2016-17 to Rs. 3.01 lakh today. This quantum jump was boosted by the State Government decision to provide zero interest loans upto Rs. 5 lakh.
In the past four years, Rs. 587 crore has been reimbursed directly to bank accounts of more than 4 lakh SHGs with Rs. 216 crore in the last year alone.
Maa Santoshi Maa SHG, Jaleswar, Balasore district has availed SHG credit linkage amounting to Rs. 40.9 lakh so far for manufacturing of mudhi & dairy farming. Today, with the help of bank finance and Department support, they have average monthly earnings of Rs.40,000, she said.
There is an unparalleled reduction in NPA of SHG loans from 14.2 percent to 1.99 percent. This is one of the lowest in the country. For the first time, 1103 GPs in Odisha are NPA Free. This was also praised by the Government of India.
Till now, 86.5 percent Women in Odisha having a Bank or Savings account that they themselves use against the national average of 78.6 percent.
To reach the unreached, Mission Shakti has placed more than 2318 SHG members as BCAs in unbanked GPs across Odisha having a business of Rs 1159 crore during last year with earnings of Rs 3.68 crore, she informed the media.
Further, 102 Mission Shakti Cafes opened across the State to provide healthy and nutritious food to people in a homely setting while being a good source of revenue generation for SHG members.
With high quality training being provided by Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), these cafes have a daily footfall of 50-100 and average monthly earning of Rs. 50,000, the Secretary pointed out.
About 1,700 PGs in the farm sector under 73 clusters have been supported under the Agriculture Production Cluster (APC) programme. Additionally, 30 Producer Companies (PCs) have also been formed and 28,575 MT vegetables valued at more than Rs. 67 crore has been sold last year by 50,100 PG members.
The SHGs have set up 1,147 Millet Enterprises, promoting healthy and sustainable food practices. Pisciculture is being done by 13,431 SHGs in 13501 GP tanks, which led to a business turnover of Rs.139 crore.
To promote market-oriented activities and to help transform SHGs to SMEs, the Department is focused on new age skilling for SHG members in the areas of agri ventures, fashion design, beauty and wellness, food and retail sector and so on.
The strength of the SHG movement lies in the strength of its institutions. Government of Odisha over the last few years has focused on the strengthening of SHG institutions right upto the grassroot level, Karthikeyan said.
For the first time, Mission Shakti institutions have received huge infrastructure support for strengthening SHGs and creating markets for their products.
The Department has constructed 6662 Mission Shakti Gruhas at GPs and Urban areas with an allocation of Rs. 5 lakh (rural) and Rs. 7.09 lakh (urban).
Similarly, 127 Mission Shakti Bhawans were constructed at Block Level at a cost of Rs. 50 lakh for each unit. Mission Shakti Bhawans constructed at District Level with an allocation of Rs 1 crore for each unit.
Besides, 119 Mission Shakti outlets opened in 22 districts. District Level Mission Shakti Bazaars are under construction. The State Level Mission Shakti Bazaar will be opened soon, she informed.
This budget has the Mission Shakti Scooter scheme, where two lakh members will be covered. Interest Subvention for loans upto Rs. 1 lakh for purchase of scooter will be borne entirely by the State Government, she added.