Bihar witnessing silent revolution through SHGs : Minister

PATNA: Claiming Bihar is witnessing a silent revolution at the grassroots through Self Help Groups (SHGs), Rural Development Minister Nitish Mishra today said Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has promised to further boost up SHGs.

In addition to earlier 55 blocks, SHG formation was initiated in an additional 116 ones across 21 districts of the state in 2012-13, he told PTI.

He said SHG formation will commence in remaining 363 blocks in the state during 2013-14 fiscal.

Mishra, who was reeling out latest statistics, said 87512 SHGs have been promoted while number of SHGs having credit linked with banks are 41284.

A total of 4,26,972 households have been covered under food security intervention while number of SHG members enrolled under 'Janshree Bima yojna is 1,41,606, the minister said.

Buoyed by the success of the SHGs, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar emphasised on expanding the base of such women groups for economic empowerment.

Kumar announced that the state would form 10 lakh SHGs in the next five years. Each group will have 15 members.

After achieving this target, a total of 1.25 crore households and 6 crore people would be linked with the SHGs which would form a formidable 55 to 60 per cent of the state population, the CM said yesterday.

The CM stressed on expanding the scope of SHGs and exhorted "didis" of such groups to take up the responsbility of making people aware of importance of sanitation, education for girls to curtail rapid population growth and health progammes.