Bhubaneswar: The State Government on Tuesday dismissed the opposition’s claim that Mission Shakti programme has digressed from its goal and highlighted that lakhs of women are being empowered through the initiative.
Women & Child Development and Mission Shakti Minister Basanti Hembram while addressing the Odisha Assembly, dismissed allegations of embezzlement of crores of rupees.
Replying to an adjournment motion moved by senior Congress MLA Narasingha Mishra, Hembram said Mission Shakti program started since 2001 and over two decades, lakhs of women from rural to urban areas have been involved in this through Self Help Groups (SHGs).
Stating that women have gained a unique identity through the initiative outside the confines of the home, she said the state government’s financial support along with its own meagre savings has improved the morale of the women.
Through various training programmes, the capacity of women has increased. Utilising the opportunities created by the government through financial assistance, training more than 70 lakh women have been empowered by joining 6 lakh SHGs in the state, she said.
The Minister said the state government has made provision for engaging SHGs for different works in various departments and more than one lakh SHGs are working in different government departments in the country through this partnership programme.
The amount of bank loans to SHGs has increased year by year and has reached Rs 9,510 crore this year, she said, adding SHGs repay regular loans and get back all interest on loans up to Rs five lakhs. Through various agricultural and non-agricultural livelihood programs, self-help groups have become employable and financially empowered.
“To turn more SHGs into entrepreneurs, the state government has initiated a programme of setting up industrial parks at the district level through Mission Shakti. Odisha’s women empowerment programme has created a unique identity across the country,” the Minister added.
