Meghalaya CS expresses concern over lack of clarity of SHGs

Shillong, Dec 4 (UNI) Meghalaya Chief Secretary S K Tewari has expressed concern over the lack of clarity among the people about the functioning and goals of Self Help Groups and the concept of micro financing in the state.

Speaking at the one-day workshop on Self Help Groups organised by the office of the State Coordinator for SHG in association with the Meghalaya Rural Development Society (MRDS), Mr Tewari said the non-confrontational and inward looking approach of the SHG movement helps in capacity building and brings about empowerment by enablement, he opined that this kind of approach has its limitations as it does not promote social engineering.

Turing to micro-financing, Mr Tiwari said the system of financing does help alleviate poverty it does not promote enterprise. As the intertest rates of such a financing system weighs heavily on the borrower, he felt that micro-financing can never replace formal credit.

The Chief Secretary also emphasized the need to replace formal credit and suggested measures for activating Self Help Groups and other related functions in the matter.

The formal website of the office of the State Coordinator for SHG www.megselfhelp.gov.in was also launched by the Meghalaya Chief Secretary on the occasion.

The workshop was organised with the aim of facilitating dialogue forcreation of a suitable framework for Coordination, Action and Policies for SHG.

UNI RRK KK DB1922