The Punjab Government has chalked out a comprehensive plan to empower the Self-Help Groups (SHG) to generate self-employment opportunities for the Below Poverty line (BPl) families. “In the first phase, the State’s Rural Development Department would launch a drive to generate awareness amongst the people about the platform of self-help group,” said Punjab Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka on Sunday.
He said that for this purpose, NGO’s, social workers, youngsters are being involved to educate people regarding new opportunities of self-employment. He said that the State Rural livelihood Mission Society has been finalised that would go into the details of the necessities of BPl families at grass root level and provide them credit, financial services to get permanent source of income.
Divulging more information, Maluka said that under this program, both the Central and the State Governments have already released funds in the ratio of 75:25 to empowered self-help groups registered with the State Government. Under the State Rural livelihood Mission Society to provide facilities for self-help groups, a pilot project has been started in 12 blocks of five districts — Gurdaspur, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, Patiala and Sangrur — and now this project would be extended in the whole State.