Mumbai: Maharashtra CM Shinde announces hike in funds for Self Help Groups

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde the monsoon session of Maharashtra Assembly, in Mumbai. Photo/Atul Kamble

Self Help Groups (SHGs) in Maharashtra will be given Rs 30,000 under the state Rural Livelihood Mission instead of the earlier Rs 15,000, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced on Friday.

A budgetary allocation of Rs 913 crore will be made for this, he told the legislative assembly here.

There are 46,956 'community resource persons' in the SHGs who get Rs 3,000 per month each and now they will be paid Rs 6,000 per month, he said.

An allocation of Rs 163 crore will be made for the purpose, Shinde said.

The monthly wages of 2,741 contract workers will be increased by 20 percent.

Loans of Rs 11,771 crore have been disbursed to 4.75 lakh SHGs through the banks, the chief minister said, adding that 96 percent of loans disbursed under the Rural Livelihood Mission have been repaid and non-performing assets (NPAs) stood at only 4.31 per cent.

Earlier Shinde said that a suitable plot has been identified for the rehabilitation of the survivors of the devastating Irshalwadi landslide. The state planning agency, CIDCO, will take charge of constructing permanent homes for the affected families. The landslide, which occurred on July 19 in the hilly hamlet of Irshalwadi in Raigad district, resulted in the loss of at least 27 lives, with 57 people still reported missing.

Currently, the survivors are being accommodated in containers, and the new homes by CIDCO will provide them with secure and stable living conditions.

In addition to this announcement, CM Shinde also revealed plans for higher financial assistance to those impacted by heavy rains and floods in the state. Each affected family will now receive Rs 10,000, which is an increase from the previous amount of Rs 5,000. Small shop owners will be provided with Rs 50,000 in aid, while roadside shops known as "tapris" will receive Rs 10,000 in assistance.

This financial aid will be extended to those affected by natural calamities that occurred between June and October 2023.

Also read: Raigad landslide survivors to get permanent homes; financial aid increase for rain and flood affected: Maha CM Shinde

During his speech in the assembly, CM Shinde indirectly made reference to some individuals' response to the Irshalwadi landslide tragedy. While not mentioning names, he contrasted his hands-on approach of visiting the site in person to those who arrived in luxury vehicles, possibly alluding to his former party chief and Shiv Sena (UBT) president, Uddhav Thackeray. CM Shinde emphasized that his government is committed to working for the welfare of the people and does not let ego get in the way of seeking funds from the Central government for the state's development.

Furthermore, the CM announced a significant increase in the "honorarium" of agriculture workers, raising it from Rs 6,000 to Rs 16,000, demonstrating the government's efforts to support the agricultural community.

CM Shinde also highlighted that 14.5 lakh farmers who have repaid their dues on time have already received Rs 50,000 each as financial assistance. Additionally, another 50,000 farmers are set to receive the same support.

Moreover, he mentioned the implementation of crop insurance for farmers at a nominal cost of Re 1 to provide them with much-needed protection against crop losses.

Overall, these measures reflect the government's commitment to supporting those affected by natural disasters and promoting the well-being of various communities in the state. (With inputs from PTI)