SHG women to get Rs 36,000cr loan support

Vijayawada: The state government is giving top priority to the economic empowerment of self-help group (SHG) women and expanding livelihood opportunities for them, minister for MSMEs, rural poverty alleviation and non-resident Andhra relations Kondapalli Srinivas said.

The minister held a review meeting with SERP CEO Vakati Karuna and directors at the SERP office in the NTR Administrative Block here on Thursday to assess the progress of various development and welfare programmes.

Officials informed the minister that bank loans amounting to Rs 15,054 crore had so far been extended to 1,02,009 SHGs during the current financial year. Srinivas directed officials to step up coordination with bankers to achieve the target of Rs 36,000 crore.

He said Rs 4,800 crore in loans had been disbursed to 4.73 lakh women through Stree Nidhi.

He directed officials to create awareness among SHG women about the exemption of processing, documentation and inspection charges on cash-credit loans sanctioned by banks. The issue should also be included in the agenda of Gram Sabhas and monthly federation meetings, he said.

The minister called for insurance coverage for every SHG woman under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), besides ensuring speedy settlement of claims through district federation insurance call centres.

He directed officials to complete arrangements for launching four SWAYAM brand signature stores to market 65 varieties of products made by SHG women. Under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM), training centres would be established in all districts to provide women and artisans with skills in modern laundry services, beauty parlours, hair cutting and other trades, he said.

Srinivas also directed officials to make farm machinery available to farmers at affordable rents through custom hiring centres operated by Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs), thereby reducing

cultivation costs.

He called upon SERP officials to work continuously to turn rural women into entrepreneurs and help them secure sustainable incomes for their families.

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The Hans India