Bhubaneswar: In a move towards upgradation of women SHGs to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the State Government has decided to set up 500 Mission Shakti Bazars across the State in the next five years.
This was informed to the media during the Post-Budget press conference jointly addressed by Mission Shakti Minister Basanti Hembram and Secretary Sujata R. Karthikeyan.
Speaking on the 2023-24 Budget Provision, Shrimati Karthikeyan said that capacity building, comprehensive livelihood & skill development of SHGs aimed at graduation to SMEs.
Training are programmed in key areas such as Agricultural Processing, Beauty, Digital and Business Management, Fashion Designing, Cafe & Food businesses, etc at Block Levels with a budgetary provision of Rs. 70 crores, she said.
Shrimati Karthikeyan further said that the State Government plans to provide Government business worth Rs 10,000 crores to SHGs over next five years. An outlay Rs. 370 crores has been provisioned for these activities in the budget.
Revolving Fund @ Rs. 1 crore each has been provisioned for 30 District Level Federations (DLFs) while Revolving Fund @ Rs. 50 lakh each has been Provisioned for 338 Block Level Federations (BLFs).
Administrative financial support has been provisioned for each District and Block Level Federation. Meeting Fees and Fixed Travelling Allowances for the Executive Committee (EC) members of the Gram Panchayat Level Federations (GPLFs) and BLFs have also been provisioned in the annual budget, the Secretary said, adding, a budgetary provision of Rs.266.57 crores has been made for all these facilities.
Minister Shrimati Hembram said that the Department of Mission Shakti has transformed the lives of more than 70 lakh women by organising them into more than 6 lakh Self Help Groups and empowering them through income-generating activities.
With continuous financial support, skill development training and new livelihood avenues, the State Government has instilled confidence and a sense of pride in every woman.
Government has made budgetary provisions of Rs. 2,554 crores for this Department for the financial year 2023-24 which is 27 per cent more over the BE for 2022-23, she added.
The Minister said that mobility is empowerment. A new initiative ‘Mission Shakti Scooter Yojana’- has been started to support electric scooters for Community Support Staff and EC members. Under this scheme, full interest subvention is proposed on bank loans up to Rs. 1 lakh. A budgetary provision of Rs 50 crores has been made, she added.
Mission Shakti aims to transform SHGs to SMEs. Government has approved the establishment of Industrial Parks for SHG entrepreneurs in each district. Rs. 150 crores have been provisioned for setting up industrial parks.
To propel women-led entrepreneurship at the SHG level, the Government has enhanced the Mission Shakti loan – State Interest Subvention Scheme from Rs. 3 lakh to Rs. 5 lakh at 0% annual rate of interest.
Rs. 10,000 Crores credit linkage targeted and Interest subvention benefits of Rs. 220 crores provisioned. Direct reimbursement of interest is being made to SHGs ’savings accounts from the State, the Minister said.
Construction of Mission Shakti Gruha in each GP and Wards, Mission Shakti Bhawans at Blocks & Districts across the state has been taken up to facilitate regular meetings & training of SHGs and to provide retail outlets.
Similarly, office building for GPLFs along with a market complex has been provisioned. Budgetary provision of Rs. 320 crores has been made, Shrimati Karthikeyan said.
Among others, N Thirumala Naik, State Mission Director, Indramani Tripathy, Director, Information and Public Relations Department along with other senior officials were present.
