Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has agreed to release Rs 9,085 crores for elimination of poverty.
Speaking to the media after the Chief Minister’s review meeting, Minister for Women Welfare and Child Development Sunitha Laxma Reddy said that for the purpose, 3.5 lakhs women’s self help groups have been identified to extend financial assistance. So far, 11 million BPL families have been brought above the poverty line, she said. Besides, 500 lakh women groups have been extended loans that would help eliminate poverty from the society. She said that the Chief Minister directed the officials to encourage the women’s groups, which have repaid loans in time. In this regard, Rs 500 crores of additional loans would be extended to such women groups, she added.
The Minister said that Rs 200 crores of interest-free loans have been extended to women groups and the State government would pay the interest amount to the banks from August 15. The Chief Minister also agreed to extend Rs 100-crore loan to Stree Nidhi, the women bank. Apart from this, scholarships worth Rs 117 crores would be extended to the children of 12 lakh women groups, she added.
As a part of poverty elimination, six lakh poor families have already been identified and 80,000 of these families belong to the SC and ST communities, she said, adding that it was also decided to extend special facilities to them.
The minister also disclosed that 50,000 women were enrolled in Abhaya Hastham and the Chief Minister directed the officials to increase the number to eight lakhs. Out of 4,000 SC, ST housing colonies, infrastructure and facilities were provided in 3,000 colonies, she said, adding that the Chief Minister had asked the officials to complete construction 1,099 Mandal Mahila Samakhya buildings by end January next. (NSS)