E-Paper
One umbrella for 3 lakh SHGs
CHIEF MINISTER Shivraj Singh Chouhan today announced that a federation would be constituted to help the Self Help Groups (SHGs) in the State to carry out their activities efficiently and to help them market their products. All the three lakh- odd SHGs, working under various departments and schemes across the State, would be brought under the aegis of this federation.
CHIEF MINISTER Shivraj Singh Chouhan today announced that a federation would be constituted to help the Self Help Groups (SHGs) in the State to carry out their activities efficiently and to help them market their products. All the three lakh- odd SHGs, working under various departments and schemes across the State, would be brought under the aegis of this federation.
Addressing a huge State level convention of the SHGs, organised by the Rural Development Department at the Lal Parade Ground here, the Chief Minister called upon the members to contribute to the State’s development through micro-economic activities.
He assured all possible help to them to upgrade to a level that they become the backbone of State’s economy. He said that they played an important role in employment generation and promotion of economic activities particularly in rural area.
Chouhan said that the products created by the SHGs had all the potential to secure market in country and abroad and the State Government would ensure that proper marketing facilities is provided to them.
Responding to some of the demands put forth by SHGs, he said that exempting the SHGs products from sales tax and allotting land to them on subsidized rates would be considered.
He also said that some other responsibilities apart from mid-day meal preparations would also be assigned to the SHGs and for making suggestions in this regard a committee would be constituted. Similarly benefits of insurance schemes would be extended to the SHGs.
A large number of representative of SHGs from across the state participated in the convention. At the outset, they welcomed the Chief Minister in a traditional manner and also presented some cultural items including tribal dances.
A play highlighting the importance of SHGs was staged under the direction of K G Trivedi. The convention was partly sponsored by UNICEF. Minister for Panchayat and Rural Development and Public Relations Narendra Singh Tomar said that cooperation and coordination are main stays of Indian society and whenever these values have been neglected, problems have been created. The SHGs are making best use of these values to attain economic development. The development of rural areas would in turn ensure rapid development of state, he added.
Chairman of the MP Agro Industries Development Corporation Munshilal also spoke on the occasion. Chairman of the MP State Finance Commission Sheetla Sahay, Minister for Women and Child Development Kusum Singh Mehdele, Animal Husbandry Minister Ramakant Tiwari, Minister of State for Social Justice Narayan Singh Kushwaha, Chairman of the MP Energy Development Corporation Dilip Singh Shekhawat and Vice Chairman of Jan Abhiyan Parishad Anil Dave were prominently present.
Principal secretary of the Rural Development Department Pradeep Bhargava that about 17000 SHGs are getting benefits of self-finance. They are associated with activities of paramount importance like plantation, implementation of Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, managing tribal hostels and others. Secretary of the department Waseem Akhtar proposed vote of thanks.
The Chief Minister interacted with several members of the SHGs and also visited the stalls put up by them at the venue.
