As many as 300 self-help groups (SHGs), formed in the city by the Society for Rural, Urban and Tribal Area Improvement (SRUTAI), have not been provided any loan support by the Behrampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) for the last 12 years.
“The SRUTAI, a voluntary organisation, has formed over 300 women groups in the city in phases since 2007-08. Though the organization has applied for loans for these women groups through the BeMC, not a single group is yet to receive any loan. While the Union and State Governments are making tall claims of providing support to women and spending a lot of money towards advertisement in that regard, the reality remains in pens and papers only,” ridiculed SRUTAI secretary Indira Nayak in a statement.
Nayak alleged that the women groups have not been provided loans as they have protested against illegal activities of departmental authorities.
“In 2012, on the advice of the BeMC, the SHGs took approval letter from Corporators and submitted before the authorities. Then the district Collector, RDC, Finance Department and Women and Child Welfare Department directed to provide loans to the groups. But BeMC has not taken requisite steps yet,” lamented Nayak.
She informed that a meeting held under chairmanship of SRUTAI president Rabi Rath has decided that members of all the 300 groups would take to the streets soon.
Among others, working president Jagannath Gantayat, secretary Indira Nayak, Ramnath Gantayat, Ashok Behera, Sahadeb Sahu, Subash Chandra Panigrahi, Susmita Sabat, Bishnu Padhi, Harapriya Sahu, Gitalaxmi Panda and Prafulla Panigrahi were present at the meeting.