Panaji, July 1 (PTI) A credit linkage of Rs 365 crore to Self Help Groups (SHGs) in Goa empowered thousands of women to start small enterprises and service-based businesses, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said on Tuesday.
Addressing a bankers' conclave here, Sawant praised the vital role of financial institutions in financing SHGs. The event was organised by the Goa State Rural Livelihood Mission (GSRLM) and attended by senior officials, representatives of the banking sector and SHGs.
"Self Help Groups in Goa received a credit linkage of Rs 365 crore during the fiscal 24-25 which has empowered thousands of women to start small enterprises, take up farming, and launch service-based businesses," Sawant said.
In finance parlance, credit linkage generally refers to the process of connecting individuals, groups, or entities with formal financial institutions, primarily banks, to facilitate access to loans and other credit facilities.
Sawant said GSRLM helped transform the lives at the grassroots, leading to the formation of more than 3,250 SHGs which positively impacted more than 43,000 households.
"These groups are not just financial entities, but they are also stories of hope, courage, and self-reliance. These are not just numbers on paper, they represent women who chose to rise, take charge of their livelihoods, and inspire others," the chief minister added.
Sawant stated that 170 women-led SHGs have been empanelled and 14 canteens are operational in government offices under the Mukhyamantri Annapurna Yojana launched in 2023 as a part of the Swayampurna Goa Mission.
"These canteens provide hygienic food while offering stable income opportunities to rural women," he said.
The chief minister appealed to bankers to further simplify credit access and increase hand-holding for SHGs, especially in the areas of digital literacy, financial awareness, and entrepreneurship.
"When financial institutions walk alongside our rural women, real change begins," he added.