Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Tuesday that self-help groups (SHGs) play an important role in the state’s rural economy. He was speaking at the inauguration of a camp and financial assistance distribution program for SHGs organized by UCO Bank at the Sukant Academy in Agartala.
Saha said that the women members of SHGs in Tripura are now seeing a path to self-reliance. He expressed hope that self-reliant women will lead to an independent Tripura.
The chief minister said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision is to develop the rural economy. The state government is working in line with that vision. He said that the state’s SHGs are doing very good work.
Saha said that the 130 SHGs that received loans from UCO Bank’s Agartala branch include 95 new SHGs that have been linked to credit for the first time. The remaining 35 SHGs have been linked to credit for the second or third time. UCO Bank has so far provided loans worth Rs 2.11 crore to SHGs in the state.
Saha said that the Government of India’s Ministry of Rural Development is working through the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihood Mission to make rural women self-reliant. Under the mission, SHGs are linked to village organizations and cluster-level federations.
He said that there are currently 51,254 SHGs in Tripura, through which about 4.66 lakh women in rural areas are associated. Of these, 19,964 are tribal women, 9,680 are scheduled caste women, and 22,222 are women from other categories.
The Tripura government has planned to empower additional 90 thousand women self-help group (SHG) members by the end of 2024. As of now, 84,424 SHG members have been identified as “lakhpati didi” (women who have accumulated assets worth over Rs 1 lakh).
To further strengthen SHGs, the state government plans to provide an additional Rs 400 crore in bank credit to women SHGs. To improve the quality of life of SHG members, 14,308 micro enterprises have been set up. To provide agricultural assistance, 1.66 lakh women from SHGs have been identified as farmers.
Chief Minister Manik Saha said that currently, government funds are directly transferred to the accounts of beneficiaries through banks. He said that this is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a financially self-reliant and digital India. The current state government is also working in this direction.
At the event, Chief Minister Saha handed over a cheque of Rs 2 crore from UCO Bank to the CEO of the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission. He also handed over cheques to SHGs across the state.
Speaking at the event, UCO Bank’s Agartala Zonal Manager Raju Das, Executive Director VN Kamale, and General Manager Ranjit Singh said that UCO Bank is committed to supporting the development of SHGs in Tripura.
Dr. Brahmanit Kaur, Executive Officer of the Tripura Rural Livelihood Mission, said that the state government is working to empower women and make them self-reliant.
