Bhubaneswar: Commissioner-cum-Director of Odisha Government’s flagship scheme Mission Shakti, Sujata Karthikeyan wrote to all district collectors today to converge the program with different Government Departments and accordingly give more responsibilities to the women self help groups (WSHGs).
The letter stated, “In a significant development, the Cabinet in its first meeting on 29th May 2019, approved the provisioning self services and procurement of goods relating to ten Government Departments through WSHGs. The list of services is given below:”
Women & Child Development and Mission Shakti Department- Supply of pre-school uniforms in Anganwadi Centres
Food Supplies & Consumer Welfare Department- Paddy procurement operations, Appointment of WSHGs as fair price shop dealers under the Public Distribution system (PDS)
Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment Department- Engagement of women SHGs as seed dealers of OSSC small nursery management, Bee Keeping, Preservation unit cultivation under Horticulture scheme, Supply of Raggi ladoos by WSHGs as commercial Agri-enterprises under MKUY (Mukhyamantri Krushi Unnayan Yojana)
School & Mass Education Department- Preparation & supply of Mid-Day meals, SHG as transport agents of rice for MDM
Department of Energy- Engaging WSHGs for electric meter reading in panchayats across the state
Department of Forest and Environment- Conservation of existing forest ad restoration of degraded forest by WSHGs, Engaging WSHGs under Ama Jangal Yojana for sustainable forest management, Processing and value addition to the available NTFP items
Department of Housing and Urban Development- Running common service center in urban local bodies, PDS distribution in urban areas
Fisheries and Animal Resources Department- Pisciculture in Gram Panchayat tanks, Semi commercial layer farming in Deep Litter System
Health & Family Welfare Department- Supply of hospital diets, Sanitary napkins and mosquito nets
Department of Rural Development- Routine maintenance of 10,000 KM of rural roads
Requesting to start immediate implementation, the letter added, “Certain activities like MDM in Schools, electricity meter reading etc ale already operation. They have to be scaled up. Paddy Procurement by SHGs has been initiated in 10 GPs of Kalahandi district and it will be further extended.”
“This is only an indicative list. You may introduce an activity that is district specific and we will take it up in other districts too. Keep the Directorate informed of any such tie ups being taken up. The intent is to procure services and goods through WSHGs following transparent procedures and robust quality monitoring. SHG involvement with Government Program will ensure last mile delivery of schemes and provide sustainable sources of income to the WSHGs,” the letter concluded.
