Bhubaneswar: In a significant step towards strengthening the financial capacity of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and their community-based organisations, the Department of Mission Shakti today extended financial assistance to SHGs across the State.
At a programme organised at Mission Shakti Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida released ₹99.26 crore towards interest subvention to 1,79,809 Self-Help Groups.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that the Government is taking a series of measures to enhance the financial and institutional capacity of SHGs and their federations. These interventions are aimed at creating new livelihood opportunities for women and strengthening women-led enterprises, thereby enabling more women to become Lakhpati Didis.
“Women are not merely beneficiaries of development; they are emerging as drivers of Odisha’s economic and social transformation. I am confident that Nari Shakti will lead the development journey of Odisha in the coming years,” Parida said.
It may be noted that a budget provision of ₹575 crore has been made for interest subvention to SHGs during the financial year 2026-27. Earlier, on June 24, 2026, interest subvention of ₹147.77 crore was released to 2,88,198 SHGs, With today’s release, a total of ₹247.03 crore has been released towards interest subvention in the current financial year so far.
For 2026-27, a target of ₹20,000 crore in bank credit linkage has been set for Self-Help Groups. The combined support of bank credit, interest subvention and community funds is aimed at providing SHG members with adequate financial resources to strengthen their livelihoods and enterprises.
As part of today’s programme, ₹151.28 crore was released under various community-based financial support mechanisms. This includes:
– ₹29.31 crore as Revolving Fund to 15,526 Self-Help Groups;
– ₹113.80 crore as Community Investment Fund to 371 Gram Panchayat-level Federations; and
– ₹8.18 crore as Vulnerability Reduction Fund to 605 Area Level Federations.
As part of the programme, representatives of SHGs from different districts received cheques from the Deputy Chief Minister. From Khordha, Maa Chanchelei SHG, Sai Ram SHG and Sai Unnati SHG received ₹38,927, ₹37,958 and ₹37,847, respectively, towards interest subvention.
Under the Revolving Fund component, 15,526 SHGs across 29 districts—Angul, Baleshwar, Bargarh, Bhadrak, Balangir, Boudh, Kataka, Deogarh, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Ganjam, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Kendrapara, Kendujhar, Khordha, Koraput, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nabarangpur, Nayagarh, Nuapada, Rayagada, Sambalpur, Subarnapur and Sundargarh—received a total of ₹29.31 crore.
Representatives of Om Sai Ram and Hari Shankar SHGs from Kataka and Sri Satya Sai and Vaibhav Laxmi SHGs from Jajpur received cheques of ₹30,000 each towards Revolving Fund.
Similarly, ₹113.80 crore was released to 371 Gram Panchayat-level Federations across 26 districts. Representatives of Algum and Gadmotari Gram Panchayat-level Federations from Puri received cheques of ₹45 lakh and ₹35 lakh, respectively, towards Community Investment Fund.
Further, ₹8.18 crore was released to 605 Area Level Federations across 19 districts—Angul, Baleshwar, Bargarh, Balangir, Boudh, Dhenkanal, Gajapati, Ganjam, Jharsuguda, Kalahandi, Kendujhar, Malkangiri, Mayurbhanj, Nayagarh, Nuapada, Rayagada, Sambalpur, Subarnapur and Sundargarh—towards Vulnerability Reduction Fund.
Representatives of Gundadurisahi and Karadabani Area Level Federations from Ganjam received cheques of ₹1.50 lakh each towards Vulnerability Reduction Fund.
Strengthening Lakhpati Didi and Green Entrepreneurship Initiatives
As part of the programme, a significant Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with Collective for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives (CINI) to further promote and expand the ‘Lakhpati Didi’ initiative.
Another collaborative MoU was signed with the Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) to promote green entrepreneurship among women SHGs and encourage the adoption of renewable energy.
The collaboration with OREDA is expected to support rural women entrepreneurs in developing environmentally sustainable enterprises and securing sustainable livelihoods, while enabling them to play a more meaningful role in the socio-economic development of their communities.
The programme was attended by Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Department of Mission Shakti, Smt. Manasi Nimbhal; Director, Mission Shakti, Dr. Monika Priyadarshini; Convenor, SLBC Odisha, senior officials of the Department, representatives of banks and partner organisations, OREDA and CINI, along with district-level officials and members of Self-Help Groups from across the State through virtual mode.
