Vijayawada: The state government initiated a project for those having an income of Rs 10,000 per month to urban women for their empowerment is exhibiting positive results. Micro Enterprise Community Consultant (MECC) established pilot project is reaching the targets. In this pilot project, the sample of 8 lakh women are empowered with fruitful results.
MEPMA MD P. Chinnatatayya while speaking shared about implementing this pilot for the remaining 20 Lakh under BPL urban women for empowering them financially, and MECC is working towards it effectively and at the earliest will implement this across the state and make it successful. The concept of MECC was initiated by Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA) with a vision of providing an additional income of Rs 10,000, for each SHG member family by 2,020 in order to achieve Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidus pet programme Kutumba Vikasam-Samaja Vikasam.
According to APITCO survey, the average income of the SHG family before 2014 is Rs 36,000 per annum rounding to Rs 3,000 per month, which is hard for survival. In order to generate additional income, MEPMA had adopted many activities like preparation of family business plans, mobilisation funds, entrepreneurship development programme training, MECC strategy, branding, self-employment to youth through skill training.
There are about 20 Lakh SHG members in urban areas across the state, out of which 8.5 Lakh members are taken by MEPMA under the family business plan. It had involved them in four different sectors, with proportions of 48 per cent in the food sector, 39 per cent in textiles and handlooms, 5 per cent in handicrafts, and 8 per cent in services.
During 2018-2019, MEPMA has facilitated 6 lakh members to achieve Rs 10,000 per month income through mobilisation of funds, providing technical and marketing support to strengthening the units. MEPMA had provided financial assistance since 2014, an amount of Rs 8524.73 crore through bank linkage, zero interest loans, capital infusion, SEP, SC, ST, BC, minority and kapu corporations.
