Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government has been championing the socio-economic empowerment of Women SHGs through interest-free loans up to Rs 5 lakh for Mission Shakti Groups (MSGs). Housing and Urban Development (H&UD) department today urged Collectors, Municipal Commissioners, and Executive Officers of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to ensure bank linkage for MSGs with work orders.

The welfare step was taken by the State to streamline the execution of MUKTA projects in 2023-24.

The department asked the Collectors to give emphasis to the expedition of credit sanction through special drives involving MSGs and bankers. The goal is to create awareness about interest subvention benefits as announced by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik among SHG members.

Additionally, a crucial condition stipulates that selected Mission Shakti Groups executing MUKTA projects must not be bank defaulters. This condition requires thorough verification by scrutiny committees and further scrutiny at the ULB level.

H&UD department underscores the collective responsibility of officials concerned, COs, CMMs, and MUKTA teams across 115 ULBs to proactively ensure bank linkage for MSGs holding work orders in 2023-24. The collectors have been directed to give a concerted effort including special drives involving the MSGs and Bankers to facilitate on-the-spot loan sanctions and raise awareness about interest subvention benefits among SHG members, an official source said.