Gujarat govt disburses Rs 140 crore in interest-free loans to 14,000 women's self-help groups

Ahmedab, Aug 4 (PTI) Gujarat government on Wednesday disbursed Rs 140 crore in interest-free loans to 14,000 women's self-help groups under Mukhyamantri Mahila Utkarsh Yojana (MMUY), a state government scheme launched last year for financial upliftment of women.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani me anuncement at Vodara on occasion of "Nari Gaurav Diwas", organised as part of nine-day celebrations for completion of his five years in office.

scheme was launched by state government in September last year with a target of covering 10 lakh women (10 per group) and giving m Rs 1,000 crore in interest-free loans by end of December 2022, Rupani said.

"Today, we will be depositing Rs 140 crore in bank accounts of 14,000 women's self-help groups that have over 1 lakh members. This is a first-of-its-kind scheme in country that provides collateral and interest-free finance to women's groups so that y can set up small businesses and contribute to ir family's income," chief minister said in his dress.

Claiming that MMUY is better than micro-finance model promoted by bel Prize winner Muhamm Yunus of Banglesh, Rupani exuded confidence that or states will also opt scheme for ecomic upliftment of women.

Gujarat government's focus is to ensure that women le in all sectors and perform better than men, he said.

" BJP has given equal rights and opportunities to women of state. A society can never progress without giving opportunities to its women. In Gujarat, 50 per cent seats in panchayats and local bodies are reserved for women. Of total 1.5 lakh youth given government jobs recently, 33 per cent were women," Rupani said.

chief minister inaugurated 215 Anganwi centres, two Sakhi one-stop centres and or buildings of state Women and Child Development department, and performed symbolic ground-breaking ceremonies for 112 Anganwi centres, three one stop centres and 28 or building blocks, it was stated. PTI PJT PD ARU ARU