Odisha CM provides Rs 220 crore monetary assistance to SHGs in Balasore

Balasore: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today provided Rs 220 crore monetary assistance to women self help groups (SHGs) in Balasore district.

Around 60,000 women of 5,600 SHGs in Balasore were given the financial assistance by the state government under ‘Mission Shakti’.

During his official visit to north Odisha district, CM Patnaik launched various development projects amounting to Rs 1,806 crore. He inaugurated projects worth Rs 374 crore and laid foundation stones for Rs 1431 crore-projects. He also inaugurated a newly constructed Railway Over bridge at Somnathpur in the district.

While providing monetary aid to SHGs under Mission Shakti, he exhorted women to turn entrepreneurs. He advised them to take the women empowerment programme to next level.

Speaking on the occasion, CM Patnaik stressed on ‘one panchayat, one product’.

“If each panchayat can produce a specific product, it will facilitate market and also create a unique identity for each panchayat,” the CM said expressing hope that women will script a history in industrial development of the state.

He announced that women will be provided Rs 50,000 crore loan without interest in next five years under Mission Shakti.

Patnaik said that Balasore is a leading district in almost all fields including education, literature, industries, agriculture and infrastructure. The launching of projects in the district will take the trend of development further.

Attending the programme, Industries and Energy Minister Pratap Deb, Odia Language, Literature and Culture Minister Ashwini Patra and Balasore MLA Swarup Das highlighted the developmental projects carried out under leadership of CM Naveen Patnaik. They said that significant work is being done in Balasore district covering all areas starting from medical college to roads, drinking water, healthcare programmes. The women in the district have created new identity through Mission Shakti programme.