Members of the State’s women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have provided more than 1.5 crore meals to the needy during the lockdown.
Members of Mission Shakti SHGs have provided 2.05 lakh meals to Aahar Kendras municipal areas. Similarly, the SHGs have provided meals to 44,832 patients in different hospitals.
So far, a total of 7,127 SHGs have provided over 1.56 crore meals, involving themselves in the preparation of cooked food both in rural and urban areas of the State, said Commissioner-cum-Director, Mission Shakti Sujata R Karthikeyan.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has highly appreciated the selfless service, enthusiasm and sincerity of Mission Shakti SHGs for their active participation in food security and social security programmes. And the Chief Minister has announced an incentive of Rs 2 per meal for them.
Besides, as many as 1,242 SHGs have prepared more than 40 lakh masks while about 8,000 members are providing dry ration and vegetables through 595 ration shops and 154 mobile vans, Karthikeyan said.
Around 70 lakh members of Mission Shakti SHGs are also involved in economic activities such as fish farming, mushroom farming, dairy farming, supply of take home ration (THR) to Anganwadi Centres, management of farm ponds and fair price shops under public distribution system, she said.
Mothers of Mission Shakti have been provided with credit assistance to the tune of Rs 145 crore in zero interest through linkage with different banks from the month of April till date.
With thousands of stranded migrant Odias returning to Odisha, the women SHGs need to play another important role. They would have to ensure that the returnees strictly adhere to the quarantine guidelines and their family members maintain social distancing, she said.