Odisha Govt Asks Districts & ULBs To Ensure Bank Linkage Of MSGs

Bhubaneswar: In order to ensure the execution of projects under its MUKTA scheme, Odisha government has asked the officials of districts and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to extend bank linkage to Mission Shakti Groups (MSGs).

In a notification on Sunday, the Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) department urged district collectors, municipal commissioners and executive officers of ULBs to facilitate bank linkage for MSGs with work orders.

The department asked the officials to help expedite sanction of bank loans to MSGs through special drives. It aims at creating awareness about interest subvention benefits as announced by the Chief Minister among SHG members.

The department also emphasised that selected MSGs executing MUKTA projects must not be bank defaulters. In order to ensure this, verification by scrutiny committees and further scrutiny at the ULB level must be carried out, it added.

The department underscored collective responsibility of the officials concerned, COs, CMMs and MUKTA teams across 115 ULBs to proactively ensure bank linkage for MSGs holding work orders in 2023-24.

The collectors have been directed to give a concerted effort including special drives involving the MSGs and banks to facilitate on-the-spot loan sanctions and raise awareness about interest subvention benefits among SHG members.

The government has taken the step to streamline the execution of Mukhyamantri Karma Taptara Abhiyan (MUKTA) projects in 2023-24.

It may be noted that the government has been striving for socio-economic empowerment of Women SHGs through interest-free loans upto Rs 5 lakh for Mission Shakti Groups (MSGs).