Centre to give Rs 1-3 lakh loans to self-help groups at very low rates

India has around 2.5 million self-help groups in rural areas

The Central government, as part of the existing National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), plans to facilitate women-led self-help groups (SHGs) by giving them bank loans of over Rs 1,00,000 and up to Rs 3,00,000 for undertaking various activities at easy interest rates.

The union cabinet had in a decision taken on November 02, 2015 had extended the interest subvention under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM)  to 100 districts.

Under the same, all women SHGs that avail off loans up to Rs 3,00,000 from banks are charged interest at the rate of 7 per cent per annum and they also