Madhya Pradesh is moving fast in the direction of women empowerment. Self-employment opportunities are also being provided to women in urban and rural areas by connecting them with economic activities through the policies, programmes and schemes of the state government. All possible support is being given to a large number of women self-help groups, especially through the Livelihood Mission.

Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that women are playing an important role in social and economic empowerment through the activities of groups. The hard work and passion of women for self-employment will go a long way in fulfilling the resolve of Atmanirbhar Madhya Pradesh.

It may be noted that about 38 lakh women have been connected by forming about 3.33 lakh self-help groups in about 45,000 villages of the state.

Ample funds have been arranged for the women associated with the self-help groups formed under the mission. All the remaining families in the eligible families to join the groups will be linked to the self-help groups in the next three years.

Chouhan has accorded top priority to the work of providing bank loans to self-help groups at affordable rates through a simple process. In order to further strengthen the livelihood activities in rural areas, there has been a substantial increase in the bank loan amount as compared to previous years. The state government has increased this from Rs 300 crore to Rs 1300 crore and this year the government has set a target of Rs 2550 crore to be provided as bank loan to self-help groups.

Decision has been taken to give interest subsidy on the loan amount by the government, which has reduced the burden of interest and has made loan repayment easier.

In order to improve the economic condition of the poor section,, interest free loans up to Rs 10,000 are being made available under Mukhya Mantri Gramin Path Vikreta Yojana. After receiving amount, the activities of the groups have increased further.

The Chief Minister says that the state’s livelihood products have also been linked with digital platforms to connect them with large markets in public and private sectors on a large scale so that goods can be bought and sold directly at reasonable prices, which will give maximum benefits to the group members.

It is the state government’s endeavour to ensure that there is no middleman between the self-help groups and the market.

For this, the state government has created the MP Aajeevika Mart portal. This portal is a very accessible medium for sale and purchase of items being made by the groups.

Efforts are being made to make this system all-pervasive soon, so that the business of SHG women can be promoted.