By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR: “Our mothers were earlier approaching banks for loans, the banks are nowadays coming to them to offer loans. The interest is also getting reimbursed.” Sujata R Karthikeyan, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Mission Shakti said.“The State Government has changed the definition of loan’’ she said.
She was speaking at the Interest Subvention Program for around 2.5 lakh Self Help Groups ( operating under the Mission Shakti Department Odisha, on Monday, which was launched by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
“ I wish to see mothers as entrepreneurs. They have significant role in transformation of Odisha,” said Chief Minister Patnaik.
On the occasion, the CM also inaugurated the District Level Federation building of Jajpur district. The Chief Minister handed over cheques to members of five Mission Shakti groups who were present at the launch of the programme. Women members of other groups of all districts and blocks joined the programme through video conference.
Sources said, under the Interest Subvention Program , Rs 125 crore interest on loans taken by the Self Help Groups will be reimbursed, which will make the loans zero interest effectively.
Over the next 5 years, Mission Shakti has provisioned to provide interest subvention benefits amounting to Rs 1200 crore to SHGs. Over the next five years, funds amounting to Rs. 50,000 crore are targeted to be disbursed to SHGs across the state.
