Yanamala chairs GoM meeting on women, farmers

Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu chaired a meeting of the Group of Ministers on various issues relating to Mahila Sadhikara Samstha and Rythu Sadhikara Samstha here on Tuesday.

The Ministers for Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Women Development, Rural Development, Social and Tribal Welfare, Backward Caste Welfare, and Vice-Chairman of Planning Board attend the meeting. The Principal Finance Secretary assisted the Group of Ministers that had the participation of officials of Mahila Sadhikara Samstha, Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, Srinidhi Bank, SERP, MEPMA, Rural Development and Agriculture and the Convener of State Level Bankers Committee attended the meeting.

The Group of Ministers on Mahila Sadhikara Samstha is mandated to work out detailed modalities for the organisational structure, institutional relationship with other departments, agencies and organisations, and all other issues that would ensure that Mahila Sadhikara Samstha becomes the premier institution for poverty elimination and empowerment in the State of Andhra Pradesh. He informed that more than four thousand crore rupees (Rs 4,000 crores) have been disbursed to more than 80 lakh women self-help group (DWCRA) members as investment capital fund and for compensating the interest paid towards the loans taken. He also informed that a massive exercise is being undertaken to revive the dormant DWCRA groups and to strengthen the capacity of the groups to access credit, technology and markets to expand income generation opportunities.

After a detailed review of the Mahila Sadhikara Samstha, the Finance Minister informed that the Government’s vision is to make the Mahila Sadhikara Samstha the premier institution for empowerment and economic development of women in the State. He also desired that there is a need for accelerated poverty reduction in the State and improved human development indicators.

The GOM made the following decisions: The CEO of Mahila Sadhikara Samstha must prepare comprehensive proposals on the Strategic Direction, HR Structure and Financial Sustainability for placing before the next GOM; A detailed analysis of the functioning of all groups will be conducted to determine the dormant and dysfunctional groups and identify measures to strengthen their capacity for income generation and the MSS will undertake a critical analysis of the loan portfolio performance and the loan management performance and establish a system for monitoring the performance of each and every group on a monthly basis.

It has also been decided that the organizational structure will be reviewed and restructured duly taking into consideration the priorities of the Government, technological tools, and the overall objectives of the Mahila Sadhikara Samstha, whose strategic direction will focus on livelihoods promotion; Human Development promotion; and convergence with departments;

A detailed study will be conducted and a proposal will be placed before the GOM for strengthening the Srinidhi Bank, including the option of converting it to be a full-fledged bank.

The Finance Minister also took stock of the Rythu Sadhikara Samstha and the performance of Farmers’ Debt Redemption Program. He reviewed the status of Kharif loan performance by the Banks. It was decided to strengthen the Farmers’ debt redemption program, improve communication and launch measures to strengthen the Rythu Sadhikara Samstha.

Yanamala desired that the outstanding debt of the weavers should be redeemed at the earliest on priority. The Minister desired to convene the meeting of GOM very soon so that the proposals for strengthening the organisations established for the empowerment of women and farmers and for ensuring that the farmers’ debt redemption scheme and the investment capital fund for DWCRA groups is placed before the Council of Ministers. (INN)