Assam govt mulling branding of SHG products

Assam government today said it is considering to set up a "big company" for branding and selling products made by self help groups, besides setting up a Rural Development Corporation and a Women Development Corporation.
The government also announced that it would create one lakh jobs this year to ease the unemployment problem in the state.
"Our government is contemplating forming a big company by organising the SHGs in an organised way on the lines of Amul," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said at the first state-level credit camp for SHGs organised by Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ASRLM).
The government is also mulling to give the products made by the SHG women a brand name.

"It augurs well for the state that lakhs and lakhs of women are coming out of the confines of their homes and supplementing the income of their families by availing loans from banks.
"Thanks to the SHGs, a silent revolution is brewing in the rural areas of the state," Gogoi said.

He emphasised on loan repayment on time and expressed appreciation that the SHGs were managing their finances well and making timely loan repayment.
Announcing that a Rural Development Corporation and a Women Development Corporation would be formed soon, the chief minister said "Our government has been village-oriented since day one as 80 per cent of the populace lives in rural areas. Without the development of villages the state cannot forge ahead."

The government will also create job opportunities for one lakh youth through employment generation mission to ease the unemployment problem this year, he added.
Assam Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Rockybul Hussain said a silent revolution is on in the rural areas of the state with the coming up of over three lakh SHGs.
"With the revolving fund of Rs one lakh as loan and Rs one lakh as subsidy, SHGs have helped to transform the lives of tens of thousands. Even cluster SHGs forming village organisation are getting Rs 25 lakh loan subsidy," he said.
Hussain said 45,000 families would be benefitted through loan credit disbursement across 300 Assam Gramin Vikash Bank branches.

ASRLM Mission Director Nitin Khade said the state-level credit camp would extend loan facility to 3,459 SHGs amounting to Rs 20.42 crore.
Loan recovery under National Rural Livelihood Mission has been a whopping 95 per cent.