Bhawanipatna: As part of the Odisha’s government’s women empowerment initiative, bank loan of more than Rs 11 crore was distributed among self-help groups (SHGs) in Kalahandi district on Thursday.
The district administration organised a loan mela to distribute the financial help to the SHGs under the Mission Shakti department at Panchayat Samiti office in Bhawanipatna. Total loan amounting to Rs 11.23 crore was given to 501 women SHGs including 442 SHGs of Bhawanpatna block and 59 in the municipality area.
Speaking on the occasion, Zilla Parishad chairman Puspendra Kumar Singhdeo said the women have been able to be financially independent by getting engaged in different projects due to this initiative of the state government. He advised the SHGs to repay the loan as soon as possible so that their members can lead a life free of loan burden.
With this, the SHGs of total 13 blocks in the district have been extended bank loans so far. Prominent invitees at the function handed over the cheques of loan to the beneficiaries on the occasion. The main branch of State Bank of India has sanctioned maximum loan of Rs 2.83 crore to 136 SHGs at the mela.
Among others, chairperson of Bhawaipatna Municipality Sanjukta Behera, block deputy chairperson Puspanjai Sahu, BDO Preet Kumar were present on the occasion.
In another block-level loan mela at Narla in the district, bank loan worth Rs 5.75 crore was distributed among the women SHGs. So far, total Rs 52.90 crore bank loan has been extended to the SHGs in the district.
