Baghpat: The Uttar Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission has intensified efforts to help women’s self-help groups (SHGs) in Baghpat secure bank loans totalling ₹47 crore for self-employment activities.
Sudha Devi Shukla, Joint Director of the Uttar Pradesh Rural Livelihood Mission, has directed departmental officials to accelerate loan disbursement and meet the assigned targets.
According to a review report sent on October 16 to the departmental Deputy Commissioner and Chief Development Officer (CDO), the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government expressed concern over the slow pace of lending to eligible self-help groups.
The initiative is being implemented under the state’s rural livelihood programme, which aims to promote self-employment and strengthen women’s economic independence.
1,371 Self-Help Groups Receive Loans Against Initial Target
For the current financial year, Baghpat was assigned a target of facilitating bank credit linkage for 2,010 women’s self-help groups. Each group was to receive a first instalment of at least ₹1.50 lakh.
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However, by September 30, only 1,371 groups had received loans, despite the completion of the first two quarters of the financial year.
The shortfall prompted the Rural Livelihood Mission to direct officials to accelerate the process and ensure that the remaining eligible groups receive bank credit.
₹47 Crore Lending Target for Women’s Self-Employment
The report states that efforts are now being intensified to provide loans of ₹1.50 lakh each to 3,151 women’s self-help groups, taking the reported lending target to approximately ₹47 crore.
The loans are intended to help members pursue self-employment and livelihood activities through their groups.
Bank credit linkage is a key component of the rural livelihood programme, enabling self-help groups to access formal credit for eligible economic activities.
Officials Directed to Speed Up Loan Disbursement
Following the review, Joint Director Sudha Devi Shukla instructed the departmental Deputy Commissioner to ensure that the lending targets are achieved.
Baghpat Chief Development Officer Anil Kumar Singh also said the administration would work towards completing the target for creating bank credit limits and securing loans for women’s self-help groups.
The directions follow concerns raised by the Centre and the state government over the pace of loan distribution.
Rural Livelihood Mission Focuses on Women’s Economic Independence
The Uttar Pradesh Rural Livelihood Mission seeks to help women become economically self-reliant through self-help groups, access to formal credit and support for livelihood activities.
In Baghpat, the current effort focuses on expanding bank credit access and completing the lending targets assigned to women’s groups.
The next step will be to accelerate the processing and disbursement of loans to the remaining eligible groups.
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