CM Jayalalithaa has grand plans for SHGs

Chennai: Chief minister J. Jayalalithaa on Thursday announced that the state government would form 10,000 self help groups (SHGs) and provide Rs 6,000 crore as loans to them through banks this year.

Making a slew of announcements under Rule 110 in the state Assembly on Thursday, Ms Jayalalithaa said that with an aim to provide socio-economic authority to women and eradicate poverty, her government formed SHGs way back in 1991.

“We have been creating new self help groups every year and this year 10,000 more SHGs will be formed in the state with destitute and poor as members through Tamil Nadu state rural livelihood mission. Our government will take all steps to improve the living conditions of all SHG members,” she said.

The Chief Minister pointed out that by providing loans to SHGs at low interest rate and involving them in economic activities would help bring them out of huge loan burden.

Recalling that her government had disbursed Rs 20,270 crore as loan to SHGs in the past four years, Ms Jayalalithaa said that these measures would ensure economic development of SHGs and this year the government would take steps to provide Rs 6,000 crore as bank loans to SHGs.

With an objective to help differently-abled and people from the weaker sections earn their livelihood by doing small time business, the state government would provide Rs 2 crore each to 600 Village Poverty Reduction Committee, totalling Rs 12 crore, facilitating disbursal of interest free loans to differently-abled and people from the weaker sections.

She said cluster of self help groups will be formed based on their work and Rs 1 lakh each will be given to 1,500 clusters, at a total expense of Rs 15 crore.

Ms Jayalalithaa also announced that her government would create permanent jobs to 30,000 youngsters in the state through Puthu Vazhvu skill development programme and Rs 30 crore will be allocated for the project.