Odisha Chief Secretary Calls for More SHG Enterprises to Boost Rural Incomes

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg has called for expanding livelihood opportunities for rural families and strengthening women’s financial independence by helping more self-help groups (SHGs) develop into small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Chairing the fifth Steering Committee meeting of the Odisha Livelihood Mission (OLM) at Lok Seva Bhavan on Wednesday, Garg stressed the need for effective implementation of livelihood programmes, adoption of innovative ideas and regular monitoring to improve outcomes.

She asked officials to identify successful SHG-led enterprises and use them as examples to encourage other groups to take up income-generating activities. She also directed officials to prioritise livelihood programmes in areas covered under the Gramodaya and PM-Janman initiatives and ensure that activities undertaken in these areas achieve their intended objectives.

SHGs Receive Rs 75,116 Crore in Bank Loans

The meeting reviewed the progress of OLM’s livelihood initiatives, including the inclusion of SHG families, formation of cluster-level and Gram Panchayat-level forums, revolving fund support, bank linkages and loan disbursement.

According to the information presented at the meeting, 5.95 lakh SHGs have received loans worth Rs 75,116 crore through bank linkages, supporting the expansion of livelihood activities, enterprise development and women’s financial empowerment.

The average loan amount available to SHGs increased from Rs 4 lakh in 2024 to Rs 5.96 lakh in 2026, indicating an increase in the scale of credit support.

Around 1.70 lakh entrepreneurs have also received financial assistance amounting to Rs 7,997 crore, according to the presentation.

Farm and Non-Farm Livelihoods Under Focus

The meeting was informed that more than one lakh SHG members, accounting for around 84 per cent of the members covered in the reported category, were engaged in farm-based livelihood activities. More than two lakh members were involved in service-based livelihoods, while 2.3 lakh were engaged in non-farm activities.

The Chief Secretary called for continued efforts to strengthen these livelihood opportunities and improve the capacity of SHGs to operate as sustainable enterprises.

She emphasised the importance of regular assessment and follow-up to ensure that livelihood programmes deliver results at the grassroots level.

Review of Previous Decisions

At the beginning of the meeting, officials reviewed the implementation of decisions taken at the fourth Steering Committee meeting held on September 10, 2025. The committee was also briefed on the sixth Executive Committee meeting, while the registration of Gram Panchayat Level Societies (GPLSS) was discussed.

State Mission Director and CEO of the Mission Shakti Department, Dr Monika Priyadarshini, presented details of various OLM programmes and their progress.

The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department Usha Padhee; Commissioner of Urban Development Deoranjan Kumar Singh; commissioners and secretaries of the Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, Handlooms, Textiles and Handicrafts, and Mission Shakti departments; the Director of Integrated Child Development and Social Welfare; and other senior officials.

The committee stressed the need for coordinated efforts among departments to expand livelihood opportunities, strengthen SHG-led enterprises and improve financial inclusion among rural households.