Distribution Of Seed Money To Women SHGs Politically Motivated, Says Aparajita Sarangi

Bhubaneswar: BJP leader Aparajita Sarangi on Saturday raised doubts on the announcement of interest-free loan and distribution of seed money to women Self-Help Groups (SHGs) by the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik under Mission Shakti programme.

The former IAS officer in her tweet, said the Women and Child Development Department had asked the district collectors to provide seed money to women SHGs on October 15, 2018. Why did the state government have to wait till January this year? “Isn’t there a clear link between seed money and vote bank politics?” Sarangi asked.

She also went on to say that NABARD figures clearly show that the average number of SHGs linked to bank finance in a year is 72,000. In this context, if six lakh groups actually exist and 72,000 are bank-linked, it reveals the absence of micro-enterprises and bankable activities.
Justifying her contention on this issue, Sarangi said in 2013-14, the state had 5.23 lakh women SHGs and now the state government claims there are three lakh new SHGs since April 2017. Taking this into account, the total number of SHGs should be 8.23 lakh whereas the government figures show six lakh. The state government should give details about the remaining 2.23 lakh SHGs.
“Anyone claiming a rosy picture of SHGs in Odisha is welcome to come with me on a random tour to interact with members. I have seen despondency, lack of direction and guidance for initiating women SHGs into diverse micro-enterprises,” Sarangi maintained.

She also criticised the BJD government’s failure in not finding an alternative way of improving the financial condition of SHGs during its 19 years of continuous rule except giving seed money and that too, just before the elections.