Odisha Refunds ₹197.66 Crore Interest to 2.8 Lakh SHGs, Strengthens Women-Led Enterprises

Bhubaneswar: Reinforcing its focus on women-led economic growth, the Odisha government on Monday released ₹197.66 crore as interest reimbursement to nearly 2.8 lakh Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under the Interest Refund to SHGs programme. The fourth phase of the initiative was rolled out at Mission Shakti Bhawan in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida.

Addressing the gathering, Parida said the state is moving beyond short-term support and building sustainable livelihood ecosystems that allow women to become entrepreneurs and job creators. She underlined that affordable institutional credit is a critical driver in this transition.

“Reduced interest burden is enabling SHG members to reinvest in their enterprises. As a result, incomes are rising and businesses are becoming more stable and scalable,” she said.

Under the scheme, the state government has waived the annual interest on bank loans up to ₹10 lakh for SHGs, reimbursing the entire amount directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts. Officials said that in the current financial year 2025–26, more than ₹515 crore has already been refunded, supporting the expansion of women-led micro and small enterprises across Odisha.

The programme has significantly strengthened grassroots entrepreneurship and enhanced the contribution of women-run businesses to the state’s economy. Linking state efforts with national priorities, the Deputy Chief Minister referred to the Union Budget announcement on expanding the Lakhpati Didi scheme and scaling up the SHE-Mart platform to improve market access for SHG products.

She said cluster-based branding, value addition and market linkage support would help women emerge as a skilled and confident workforce. “Our aim is not only income generation, but long-term economic security for women,” Parida added.

In another major step, the Deputy Chief Minister announced that over 46,000 Community Resource Person (CRP) sisters would be provided smartphones to strengthen digital connectivity at the grassroots. She also said all community support staff would receive new uniforms and identity cards to enhance visibility and recognition.

Senior officials from the Mission Shakti Department and Odisha Livelihoods Mission, along with representatives from various banks, attended the programme physically, while district- and block-level officials and SHG members joined virtually.

Officials said the interest refund initiative reflects the government’s sustained commitment to making women central to Odisha’s development process by strengthening their economic and social agency.