Punjab govt to empower self help groups

Punjab government today said it has chalked out a comprehensive plan to empower self help groups to generate self-employment opportunities for BPL families in the state.
Disclosing this here today state Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka said that in the first phase the ministry would launch a drive to generate awareness amongst the people about the platform of self-help groups.
He said that for this purpose, NGO's, social workers, youngsters will educate people regarding new opportunities of self employment.
Maluka said the State Rural Livelihood Mission Society has been finalised that would go into the details of the necessities of BPL families at grassroots level and provide them credit, financial services to get permanent source of income.

Under the programme, Central and state governments have already released funds in the ratio of 75:25 to empowered self-help groups registered with the state government, he said.
In a bid to provide facilities for self-help groups, a pilot project has also been started in 12 blocks of five districts -- Gurdaspur, Tarntaran, Ferozpur, Patiala and Sangrur and now this project would be extended in the whole state, he said.