Bhubaneswar: Hitting out at Odisha’s BJD government for claiming full credit for interest subvention benefits to women Self Help Groups (SHGs), the opposition BJP on Tuesday said the Centre’s contribution towards the waiver is substantial.
Accusing the ruling BJD of misleading people by making false claims about interest subvention for Mission Shakti groups, BJP state president Samir Mohanty said the Centre has been providing huge funds under the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojna-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) programme to Odisha.
However, the BJD government is diverting the Central funds and utilising it to run state schemes, he claimed.
Coming down heavily on the BJD government, President of state BJP women’s wing Smruti Patnaik also alleged that the state government has been diverting Central funds and taking political mileage.
Addressing a press meet in Bhubaneswar, she said over 33 lakh SHGs are operating in 6,821 blocks in 711 districts across the country. A total of 3.84 lakh Community Resource Persons (CRP) are working under the Central government.
Of the Rs 125 crore interest subvention benefits disbursed by the state government on Monday, the Centre has contributed Rs 88 crore while Odisha’s share was Rs 37 crore, Patnaik said.
However, the state government claimed that it has contributed the entire amount, the senior BJP leader said.
Terming as false the state’s claim about making 70 lakh women of 7 lakh SHGs self-reliant, she said there are only 85,000 SHGs of which 59,494 are operating.
Accusing BJD is doing cheap politics, she said BJP will tell people about the Central government’s contributions in rice, PMAY, Janani Suraksha and other welfare schemes.
Reacting to BJP’s allegation, senior BJD leader and ruling party spokesperson Shrimayee Mishra said those who are unable to work and get rejected by the people make such allegations.
The BJD government has been working for the people, particularly for the empowerment of women, she said, adding that the party enjoys people’s faith and support as it is always with them.
