Dhenkanal, Nov 10 (KNN) The Odisha government has set a target to provide Rs 9,000 crore loan to SHGs in the state this year, said Mission Shakti secretary Sujata Karthikeyan during the district investors’ meet on Wednesday.

Ahead of the third edition of Make in Odisha conclave in Bhubaneswar, the Mission Shakti department in collaboration with the women’s wing of FICCI, FICCI Ladies organization (FLO) organised a district investors’ meet for self-help groups (SHGs) to market their products and bring in investors by roping in small and medium enterprises (SME). 

At least 56 SHGs, 25 industry representatives and 50 departments of the state government participated in the meet which was titled ‘SHG to SME: Invest in Her’. 

Stating that there are 70 lakhs SHG members in Odisha, Karthikeyan said a state-level Mission Shakti Bazaar will be held soon. She also praised the pickle produced by SHGs in Dhenkanal. 

At least 3000 groups from Dhenkanal are engaged in convergence, electric meter reading, Aahar Kendra management. Training women on hospitality management, goods and services, e-auto operation, Mission Shakti Cafes operation can be taken up where women can contribute and earn livelihood.

Dhenkanal collector Saroj Kumar Sethi promised to carry forward the Mission Shakti movement by providing incentives and support to 20,000 SHGs in the district. He called upon industries operating in Dhenkanal to support the SHGs in value addition of their products. 

In Dhenkanal, there are 2 lakh SHG members who are doing good business by making quality products. Sethi informed that the pickles produced by Dhenkanal SHGs are being provided to 10 districts.  (KNN Bureau)