Karnataka to Launch Dedicated Credit Co-operative Society to Provide Low-Interest Loans for Women-Led SHGs

A strong country is strong through strong women: Minister Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil

Bangalore City District Sec. 19 (Karnataka News):
Minister for Medical Education and Skill Development Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil has opined that only through women’s empowerment and economic self-reliance can real change be brought about in society.

He was speaking while inaugurating the national-level ‘Namma Saras Mela’ organized in the city under the joint auspices of the Union Government’s Ministry of Rural Development, the Karnataka Government’s Department of Skill Development and the Karnataka State Rural Livelihoods Initiative (Sanjeevini).

This fair has been organized with the aim of providing a better market for the diverse products manufactured by self-help groups across the country. He said that free stalls, food and accommodation facilities have been provided to the members of the association without any charge, so that they can display and sell their products directly to the customers. Last time, the state-level fair was held in Mangaluru. This year, along with the national-level fair in Bengaluru, the state-level ‘Saras Mela’ will be organized at two places including Mysore, he said.

‘Credit Co-operative Society’ to be established soon to support self-help groups:

The minister said that to prevent women from self-help groups from falling into the trap of high interest rates of microfinance institutions, the government itself will soon start a separate ‘Credit Co-operative Society’ to provide loans at minimum interest rates. He explained that through this, easy loans will be provided to gram panchayat level unions and financial self-reliance will be strengthened.

‘Bengaluru Santhe’ launched: He informed that a permanent market system called ‘Bengaluru Santhe’, which will provide stalls on a rotation basis for the continuous sale of products of women’s self-help groups, will be launched in Bengaluru in the next one month.

The lion’s share of guarantee schemes is for women: The lion’s share of major schemes including the state government’s guarantee schemes like Grihalakshmi, Shakti, and Annabhagya are reserved for women. He said that the government is firmly convinced that if money reaches women, it will be well utilized for the prosperity of the family, nutrition and education of children.
He appealed to the city people to visit the Saras Mela in large numbers and help by purchasing local products so that rural women can become self-reliant and stand on their own feet with dignity in society.

Subodh Yadav, Principal Secretary to the Government of Karnataka, Department of Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihoods, informed that GI recognized products from Karnataka and other states, handicrafts, handlooms, decorative home appliances of rural women entrepreneurs are on display in a total of 150 stalls. He said that cultural programs including traditional and unique food stalls from various states will also be organized.

The event was attended by National Livelihood Campaign Director Vasireddy Vijayajyothsana, Employment and Industrial Training Department Commissioner Shilpa M, and other senior officials, members of self-help groups and the public.