The concept of women Self Help Group should prosper in the State. The women have the potential to change the rural scenario of the State, said Chief Minister Harish Rawat while addressing a Self Help Group (SHG) bank linkage programme here on Tuesday.
The Chief Minister appealed to the women to come forward to fill colours in his vision of rural metamorphosis of Uttarakhand and with the help of SHGs the economic inclusion could be practiced in the villages and mohallas. Rawat said that participation of women is necessary to remain in the quest of development.
He said that the real development means bringing women, minorities, SC and ST in the mainstream. Appreciating the State Bank of India (SBI) for providing loans to women SHGs, the CM said that other banks would get inspiration from SBI and requested the bank to organise such events in Haldwani, Srinagar and Haridwar as well.
Rawat said that a permanent market for the products of these groups would be set up in the cities of Dehradun, Haldwani, Rudrapur and Haridwar. He said that the cooperative department has also been asked to procure the products of Women SHGs on priority.
The CM said that a E-portal too is being prepared where these groups would be registered. He informed that a working plan to attract the women SHGs is being devised.
The Chief Minister made a declaration to provide a financial help of `5000 from the CM discretionary fund to the SHGs who participated in the event.
Speaking on the occasion the finance minister, Indira Hridayesh said that there is a need to establish permanent market for products of women SHGs. She said that high quality products are being prepared by these groups and appreciated the SBI for helping these groups. The CM distributed the cheques to the SHGs on the occasion.
The Chief General Manager of SBI, Pallav Mahapatra said that 101 women SHGs participated in the event in which a loan amount of `1 crore was distributed.
The programme was attended by principal secretary Radha Raturi, additional secretary Shridhar Babu Addanki, Chief General Manager of NABARD, C P Mohan and large number of women from all parts of State.