Tag: Self Help Group

Muktidhara Scheme for South 24 Parganas inaugurated

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On the innitiative of West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee, the Muktidhara Scheme to extend assistance to self-help groups (SHGs) of the State was inaugurated today for South 24 Parganas.

The minister for Consumer Affairs and Self-Help Groups, Sadhan Pandey inaugurated the project at Bireshwar Gourmohan Sachin Mandal College in Mandirbajar.

The primary aim of Muktidhara Scheme is to help the weaker sections of society, particularly to make the women’s SHG self-sufficient and to increase the family income and through it, improve the lifestyles of the people.  Both village and city-based SHGs would be able to take advantage of this scheme.

The project has already been launched in the districts of Purulia, West Medinipur, Nadia and North 24-Parganas. Later on, it would be extended to all the districts of West Bengal.

Under the scheme, the SHGs are going to be helped to become self-sufficient through the farming of groundnuts, setting up of vegetable gardens, extracting lac, making plates from sal leaves, making muri, keeping hens and ducks for eggs and meat, keeping goats and pigs for their meat, and dairying.

Each self-help group would be given a loan of a maximum of Rs 1.15 lakh.

 

মুখ্যমন্ত্রীর অনুপ্রেরণায় ‘মুক্তিধারা প্রকল্প’ শুরু হল দক্ষিণ ২৪ পরগনায়   

পশ্চিমবঙ্গের মাননীয়া মুখ্যমন্ত্রী মমতা বন্দ্যোপাধ্যায়ের অনুপ্রেরণায় স্বনির্ভর গোষ্ঠীর সার্বিক উন্নয়নের লক্ষ্যে পশ্চিমবঙ্গ সরকারের আরও একটি নতুন পদক্ষেপ ‘মুক্তিধারা প্রকল্প’। দক্ষিণ ২৪ পরগনা জেলায় এই প্রকল্পের শুভ উদ্বোধন করলেন ভারপ্রাপ্ত মন্ত্রী, উপভোক্তা বিষয়ক এবং স্বনির্ভর গোষ্ঠী ও স্বনিযুক্তি দপ্তরের মন্ত্রী শ্রী সাধন পাণ্ডে।

সমাজের দুর্বলতর শ্রেণীর বিশেষত মহিলা স্বনির্ভর গোষ্ঠীগুলিকে আর্থিকভাবে স্বনির্ভর করা এবং পারিবারিক আয় বৃদ্ধি ও জীবনযাত্রার মান উন্নত করা। এই প্রকল্পে স্বনির্ভর গোষ্ঠীগুলিকে লাক্ষা, বাদাম, সবজি বাগান, মধু চাষ, শালপাতার থালা তৈরি, মুড়ি তৈরি, হাঁস-মুরগী পালন, ছাগ পালন, শূকর পালন ও ডেয়ারি ইত্যাদি বিষয়ের ওপর স্বনির্ভর করার ব্যবস্থা করা হয়েছে।

প্রথম ধাপে প্রতি স্বনির্ভর গোষ্ঠীকে ১ লক্ষ ২৫ হাজার টাকা পর্যন্ত ঋণ দেওয়া হচ্ছে।

প্রাথমিকভাবে পুরুলিয়া, পশ্চিম মেদিনীপুর, নদীয়া এবং উত্তর ২৪ পরগণা জেলায় এই প্রকল্প শুরু হয়েছে। আগামী দিনে পশ্চিমবঙ্গের সমস্ত জেলায় এই প্রকল্প শুরু হবে।

 

WB CM felicitates self help groups run by women at Anandadhara Sammelan

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West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee today felicitated self help groups (SHG) run by women at the Anandadhara Sammelan 2015 organised at Netaji Indoor Stadium. The programme was organised by the State Panchayat & Rural Development Department.

The Chief Minister said that the government was providing subsidy of 30% to the SHGs. She called upon all banks to provide financial assistance to these SHGs as they were the future of the country.

Taking pride in the achievements of the SHGs she said that of late a lot of scope for selling their products have come up with so many festivals and events organised by the government. The Chief Minister said that in future the products of SHGs will go global with Biswa Bangla.

Mamata Banerjee slammed the Centre for stopping the funding of several social sector projects like mid-day meal, ICDS, police modernisation among others. She rued the fact that she had to pay for the sins of the Left Front Government.

“The Prime Minister should immediately call a meeting of CMs. Earlier we voiced our concern at Planning Commission. It has been disbanded. Niti Ayog is na idhar ka na udhar ka. If I don’t get funds how will I carry on with developmental projects,” she added.

Around 1000 active SHGs were provided with onetime financial assistance at today’s programme. Fifty one cooperatives were also felicitated and one-time financial assistance was provided to them.

The Government also felicitated the cooperatives who have met with success post the RSETI training.

Today, three districts were awarded for their successful initiatives in providing assistance to the SHGs run by women. A documentary made on SHGs was also be screened today.

 

Policies of Mamata Banerjee Govt help revive Bengal handloom sector

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West Bengal Government has focused upon the rejuvenation and development of its world-famed Tant products, which are still now woven in handlooms.

Recently, West Bengal MoS for MSME Swapan Debnath inaugurated the Banglar Tanter Haat at Milan Mela Prangan in Kolkata. The Haat will continue till October 12.

Tantuja, the largest of the State Government organizations marketing Bengal’s handloom products, has taken initiative to have tie-ups with online shops like Snapdeal and Amazon. It is also with talks with the Google authorities for upgrading its website.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier provided some design for Tant sarees and had stressed on usage of natural and organic colours for the products.

The West Bengal Government is giving all out support to the Self Help Groups, 50% of which comprise women by offering incentives, weaver’s credit cards and other facilities given to the unorganized sector.

Recently, the Government has started the “Tant Saathi” scheme. In the first phase, around one lakh weavers will be distributed with looms so that they would not have to depend on loans.

Accident insurance scheme for self-help groups started in Bengal

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An accident insurance scheme for self-help groups (SHGs) has been started in West Bengal. The implementation of the scheme has begun with the district of Purulia. It is to be extended to the district of Nadia, and in around a month, to the rest of the State. An additional 2% subsidy on interest against loans taken by the SHGs has also been announced.

About the scheme

The accident insurance scheme for the SHGs, administered by West Bengal Swarojgar Corporation Limited, has been made applicable to all members aged 18 to 60 years. The compensation for accident-related deaths has been settled at Rs 1 lakh. This compensation amount is also applicable to those who fall in the categories of total permanent disability, partial permanent disability and temporary total disability, as per an announcement by the Department of Self-Help Group & Self-Employment.

Rs 40,000 has been earmarked for accident-linked treatment and surgery. For conducting the last rites of accident victims, a maximum of Rs 2,500 would be given. To compensate a person for the wage loss suffered as a result of an accident, Rs 100 per day would be paid for a maximum period of 30 days.

Loans taken by the SHGs from banks carry an interest of 11%. Of this 11%, till now, 7% used to be paid by the State Government in the form of subsidy. Therefore, SHGs had to pay 4% of the interest. Now, the State has decided to pay an additional 2% of the interest, to lower the burden on the SHGs. Hence, from now on, the SHGs would have to pay only 2% of the interest.

As of now, this new subsidy scheme would benefit those SHGs that had applied for loans from April 2014 onwards. However, efforts are on to extend this subsidy to those groups too that have been paying their interests from earlier.

According to the State Government, more than 50 lakh members from the almost 5 lakh SHGs would be benefited by all the above-mentioned measures.

 

Image via Milaap.org

 

Self Help Groups brought under Social Security in Bengal

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The West Bengal Chief Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee took an innovative measure to help the ordinary people of the State.  While her decision to reach out to the unorganised and transport workers, street hawkers have been well appreciated, now, the State Government has decided to include the ‘Self Help Groups’ across the State Social Security Scheme.

West Bengal Chief Minister Ms Mamata Banerjee expressed that a lot of young boys and girls work in these organisations and the State must reach out to them for their welfare.

Earlier, the Self Help Groups of the State, which mainly comprised of women, did not get the benefits of the ongoing Social Security Schemes.

An exchequer worth Rs 100 Crore is being created by the Government to give loan to these groups who have difficulties in getting loans from recognised banks.  The loans given out by these banks normally come with a high rate of interest of 400%, whereas the State Government will give loans at 200% interest with the rest as subsidy.

After a meeting with various departments of the Government like Panchayat & Rural Development, MSME and other various Government officials, this scheme has been drawn up. Along with easy loans, the Government is also creating a fund worth Rs 60 Crore wherein people working in these organisations will get monetary help in case they meet with accidents while at work or become ill. Rs 1 Lakh will be given in case of accidental deaths or handicapped while at work and Rs 40000 if the person falls ill.

On reaching the age of 60, they will get an ex gratia amount between Rs 1-2 Lakh. For this the individual workers would be required to pay Rs 30 only per year. The Accounts Department of the State Government has been instructed to draw a plan so that from May 2015 onwards enrollment for this Scheme can be started. Over 50 Lakh Self Help Groups in the State will benefit from this Scheme.