CM gives cheques to SHG members

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, October 24

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat distributed cheques under seed money and Community Investment Fund initiatives of Mukhyamantri Mahila Swayam Sahayata Samuh Sashiktkaran Yojna at the Himanya Saras fair held at Parade Ground here today.

The cheques of seed capital worth Rs 5,000 and Community Investment Fund worth Rs 20,000 were presented to women self-help groups (WSHGs) from various districts of the state.

Addressing the event, the Chief Minister said the state government was enthused at the growing participation of WSHGs and budget had been released to set up Women Hatt in Chamoli and Dehradun. Further, these sorts of Hatts would be set up in every district of Uttarakhand. He said Indira Amma canteens was based on a concept aimed at encouraging WSHGs in the food sector. The state government was going to set up 100 Indira Amma canteens across Uttarakhand as more than 20 such canteens had been set up till date.

The economic development of Uttarakhand was being initiated by collective participation of WSHGs, Mahila Mangal Dals, Anganwari and ASHA workers and Bhojanmatas, Rawat said.

He said a plan was being made to waive old loans of WSHGs. Under the Rajya Byaj Upadan Yojna, WSHGs whose loans became non-performing assets (NPA) by December 31, 2013, but still wanted to work and were ready to pay the principal amount, their interest from the date of becoming NPA till date would be borne by the state government. The Uttarakhand Government would grant an interest subsidy of up to 3 per cent to those WSHGs which would perform well and pay their loans on time.

Rawat said 5 per cent bonus would be granted to WSHGs on their annual turnover by the state government and 10 per cent bonus to those groups which were working in disaster-affected districts of the state. The women working in their own farms might be registered as MNERGA labour.