With an aim to double the income of women self-help groups (WSHGs), the Odisha government today announced to enhance the credit linkage amount for them to Rs 1,000 crore.
The announcement was made by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik while addressing the 'Mahila Samavesh' here as part of celebration of legendary Biju Patnaik's birth centenary and 80th year of formation of Odisha state.
"Women self-help groups in the state will get Rs 1,000 crore credit linkage this year with only one per cent interest," he said, adding Biju Patnaik was the first leader in the country to take steps to bring women into the mainstream and empowered them.
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"We'll carry forward his vision of making women skilled and empowered," the chief minister said, adding the credit linkage for WSHGs now stood at Rs 500 crore. An increase in the credit linkage would enhance economic activities of WSHGs and help women members to generate more income.
Stating that the 'Mission Shakti' has turned into a silent revolution for Odia women, Patnaik said already over 50 lakh women in the state had come under its fold.
He said as promised during the 2014 general elections, the state government had ensured that the WSHGs got loan at the rate of only one per cent.
"It is a big opportunity for the WSHGs of Odisha to avail loan of worth Rs 1,000 crore at the rate of only one per cent," Patnaik said, adding the rise in the income of women would lead to better socio-economic development of rural families and their children could avail better education.
The Chief Minister said all the welfare schemes of his government were inspired by the ideology of Biju Patnaik.
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