Bhubaneswar: Deputy CM and Mission Shakti minister Pravati Parida disbursed financial assistance, including interest subvention, to lakhs of women self-help groups (SHGs), aiming to strengthen their economic activities and promote women entrepreneurship, at an event here on Tuesday.Parida said women are now at the forefront of the state’s development journey. While earlier efforts focused on how to uplift women, today they have emerged as key drivers of social and economic transformation in Odisha, she said. The DCM emphasised that as SHG members grow economically stronger and self-reliant, they are laying a solid foundation for a developed Odisha. She further urged women to effectively utilise financial resources provided under various govt schemes, reinvest their earnings wisely, enhance financial literacy, and remain vigilant against rising cyber frauds.On the occasion, interest subvention amounting to Rs 208.35 crore was provided to 2,67,131 SHGs across the state against their bank loans. To further strengthen grassroots institutions, financial assistance was also extended under various categories. A total of Rs 6.43 crore was provided as revolving fund to 3,510 SHGs. Similarly, Rs 57.05 crore was disbursed as community investment fund to 180 gram panchayat level federations (GPLFs), and Rs 1.40 crore was extended to 101 cluster level federations (CLFs) under the Vulnerability Reduction Fund.
