Muktidhara Scheme For Self-Help Groups in West Bengal
Tackling the issue of unemployment has always been an agenda of the current state government of West Bengal. The lack of jobs in the rural areas is causing a huge migration of village folks in the cities. For the development of job opportunities in the villages, the state government has implemented the Muktidhara Scheme, especially in the rural areas.
| Name | Muktidhara Scheme In West Bengal |
| Launched by | Chief Minister of the state Mamata Bannerjee |
| Implementation on | March, 2013 |
| First District implemented in the district named | Purulia |
| Monitored by | Department of Rural Development of the state |
| Key person | Sri Sadhan Pande |
| Official Website | https://wb.gov.in/portal/web/guest/muktidhara |
| Helpline number | 2262-7270 |
Key features of the Muktidhara Scheme
- Improving the standard of life – The standard of life in the rural areas is not up to the mark due to lack of facilities and job opportunities. With the implementation of the program, the state government will be able to provide employment opportunities and also improve the standard of living.
- Acquiring assistance of SHGs – Under the scheme, the state government will provide assistance to the Self Help Groups. These groups will provide the required training to the villagers so that they can develop their own business.
- Getting a fixed income – The main aim of the CM was to provide an opportunity so that each villages attains the knowledge about any agro-business or otherwise. It will give them the chance of earning Rs. 3000 on a monthly basis to sustain their lives properly.
- Involving the women and youth – The state government aims at bringing more and more women under the scheme. They can get the necessary training and use it for earning their own livelihood. It will improve the overall scenario of the village economy.
- Creating small groups – Under the scheme, it has been highlighted that each Self Help Group will consist of now more than 10 members. These individuals will be provided with the technical knowledge and financial support for earning their own livelihood.
- Acquiring credit at low rates – Setting up any form of business, no matter how small it is, will not be easy without funds. Thus, the SHGs will acquire credit from the banks and the amount will be distributed among the members of the group to meet the requirements of establishing the business. The best part about the credit is, it will be given at very low rates. A maximum of 1.2 lakhs will be provided to each SHG.
- Repayment of the credit – As the members of the group will all be benefited by the credit that the bank will provide. As all members are getting the benefit, they all will contribute towards the repayment of the loan. It will put less pressure on the individual candidates.
- Providing required machines – It is time to shun the old and embrace the new. Thus, the member of the group will be given new and improved machines, which will make cultivation of crops easy.
Job opportunities under the scheme
- Setting up businesses – Under the program, the state government will assist the rural candidates in getting credit and training for setting up medium, small and micro business establishments. It will not only empower the individuals but will also increase the job opportunities in the area.
- Improving cultivation – The SHGs will pit more stress on the farm related businesses. Most of the people in the rural areas are farmers. Thus, the village folks will acquire training for improving cultivation and farming related jobs.
- Keeping animals – Apart from improving the cultivation, the interested candidate will also acquire training that will help in the development of jobs, which are associated with animal husbandry. Keeping goats and poultry farming generates lucrative job opportunities.
- Jobs of the trainers – Not all living in the rural areas have the required training for improving the living standards by developing business on their own. This requires training and thus, the implementation of the scheme also opens doors for those who will take up the task of training the youth.
Implementation process of the scheme
- Though the scheme is the brain child of the Rural Development Department, all activities associated with the implementation of program will be looked after by the officials of the district administration.
- The responsibility of forming the Self Help Groups will be vested with the Gram Panchayats. These Self Help Groups will form the groups and provide the villagers with the training and required things, so that each member can become self-dependent.
- The SHGs will have trainers who will provide theoretical as well as practical training to the villagers so that they can take part in any business. The trade can be related to farming, animal husbandry or any kind of handicraft.
- Apart from the training, the SHGs will ensure that the members of the group acquire the much required financial assistance. The SHGs will approach the banks and acquire the loan at very low interest rates.
- It will be the responsibility of the SHGs to distribute the money among the members, according to their business requirements. With the technical, theoretical, and financial assistance, the villagers will be able to earn a better living.
- The head of the SHGs will also collect money from the members of the group and pay it back to the banks. Thus, the Self Help Groups have a very important role to be played in the development of the overall scenario in the villages.
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