Hand hold self-help groups: CM

Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy directed the officials to focus on resurvey of lands in villages, establish digital libraries in rural and urban areas while encouraging self-employment schemes for women on a large scale under the Cheyutha programme. At a review on panchayat raj and rural department on Monday, the Chief Minister said that the women beneficiaries of Cheyutha would benefit fully if the first tranche amounts are utilised for self-employment schemes.

He said that zero-interest loan scheme for women would be implemented on August 10. There should be a constant review of the employment programmes taken up by the PR department and a separate wing should be established for assessing the implementation of these programmes, he said, adding that officials should hand hold the self-help groups based on periodical assessment reports for running their units successfully

Officials told the Chief Minister that AP had put up exemplary performance at the national level by completing 18.90 crore man days under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) as against the target of 24 crore mandays.

Out of a total estimated expenditure of Rs 9,600 crore, Rs 3,860 crore would be paid towards wages, they said.

The Chief Minister was also informed that the construction of village and ward secretariats is progressing rapidly and the work would be completed by September end. Under Jagananna Saswatha Bhuhakku-Bhu Raksha, drone survey of lands has been completed in 10,943 villages and land documents are being handed over to the owners.

The Chief Minister said that appointment of surveyors in all village secretariats has helped completion of survey at fast pace and AP is the only state to have launched registration services in villages.

He asked them to first identify the places for construction and complete the construction of Rythu Bharosa Kendras, digital libraries and village clinics.

The Chief Minister also told them to pay special attention on Jagananna colonies and ensure pleasant and hygienic ambience by providing all basic facilities and excellent sanitation. “There should be no compromise on this count,” he said.

The government is giving Rs 18,750 each to members of women’s self-help groups every year totalling to Rs 75,000 in four years under YSR Cheyutha. “You should focus on providing them bank loans and encourage them to start self-employment units for generating more revenue so that they would have economic empowerment,” he said.

In July, 62,99,393 persons were given pension and an amount of Rs 1,735.36crore was spent on this per month, officials told him, while Rs 19,178.17 crore was given under YSR Aasara and Rs 14,129.11 crore was incurred under YSR Zero Interest Scheme in the last three years. It helped 13 lakh people in the rural areas gain livelihood, officials informed.

They said that the Mahila Marts, established by the self-help groups, have done a business of Rs 32.44 crore and 36 marts have been established so far.

He asked them to make the Jagananna Thodu scheme applicable to self-employed women.

“Women belong to the voiceless group and hence officials should work for their progress by negotiating with banks to reduce the interest rate on their loans. We succeeded in reducing the interest rate on self-help group bank loans to 9 per cent mostly. Similarly, you should try to reduce the interest rate on Stree Nidhi loans also to 9 per cent,” the Chief Minister said. Deputy Chief Minister (panchayat raj and rural development) B Muthyala Naidu, chief secretary K S Jawahar Reddy and other officials were present.