Co operative dept targets Rs 200 crore credit to SHGs in Raj

Jaipur, July 14 (UNI) Rajasthan has set a target of Rs 200 crore credit disposal through co operatives to the Self Help Groups(SHGs) in the next four years.

This was disclosed at a seminar on co-operatives and SHGs inaugurated by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. She said micro finance and self help groups (SHGs) linking co operative institutions will act as a powerful catalyst for poverty alleviation and the empowerment of women in the grassroot level.

The Chief Minister emphasised the need for a vision document for five years and adoption of modern marketing strategies for the sale of the products manufactured by the SHG through the co-operatives.

Ms Raje was of the opinion that poultry, Dairy, medicinal products and Jatropa farming are some of the areas which can be brought under the ambit of SHGs. She commented the effort made by the co-operative department in constituting SHGs and linking them with institutional credit.

Speaking on the occassion, Agriculture Minister Prabhulal Saini while elaborating the advances made by the state in establishing SHGs said, out of the 22 lakh SHGs in the country Rajasthan account for about 2 lakhs of which 90 per cent are women members. He said credit linking the SHGs with co operatives will go a long way in self reliance and empowerment of women.

Secretary co-operatives Vinod Zutshi said a five year plan for SHGs and credit linking with co operatives have been drawn up and co-operatives have set a target of Rs 200 crore in the next four years.

UNI