Gandhinagar, Gujarat – Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has asked cooperative banks in Gujarat to expedite the loan process for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in the state. He made this request during a review meeting with the chairpersons of cooperative banks and senior officials from the Gujarat Lively Hood Promotion Company, as well as the Women and Child Development and Rural Development departments. The meeting highlighted the importance of these groups in empowering women and promoting self-reliance. Patel stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for these groups is crucial for making women self-sufficient. The SHGs are small business units that can achieve great success with adequate funding from cooperative banks. Currently, there are approximately 284,000 SHGs operating in Gujarat, with 176,000 linked to agriculture, 16,608 to production and trade, and 6,973 engaged in various livelihood activities. These groups can receive loans of up to Rs 20 lakh under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM), supported by both the central and state governments. The Gujarat Lively Hood Promotion Company plays a key role in assisting these SHGs in obtaining loans. For the financial year 2025-26, the central government has set a target of providing Rs 12,400 crore in loans to 88,200 SHGs, with over 13,000 already receiving financial support. Chief Minister Patel emphasized the need for cooperative banks to organize district-level camps to facilitate quicker loan disbursement for SHGs. He instructed that applications from these groups should be processed efficiently, ensuring that unnecessary rejections do not occur. An action plan for improving the loan process was also discussed at the meeting. Patel urged bank officials to conduct workshops at the cluster level to educate women on how to secure loans. He reassured them that these groups are reliable borrowers, as they contribute to their families’ income and are likely to repay loans. Additionally, the Chief Minister suggested that the review meetings with cooperative banks’ chairpersons and relevant officials should be held every three months to monitor progress. The meeting was attended by various dignitaries, including the state’s cooperative ministers and senior officials from the finance and rural development departments, ensuring that the initiative gains the necessary momentum. This collaborative effort aims to bolster the economy of rural areas by empowering women and enhancing their livelihoods through financial support.
