MUDRA scheme will give special focus on women: Najma Heptulla

NIMPITH (WEST BENGAL): Stating that the Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency ( MUDRA) scheme would help around 12 crore people financially by making them self-dependent, Union Minister of Minority Affairs Najma Heptulla today said that the country's women would get special focus under the scheme.

Speaking at the launch of Prime Minister's MUDRA Yojana here in South 24 Parganas District's Nimpith, Heptulla said, "In Mudra, women will be under special focus. If women want to start entrepreneurship they will get preference... and the backwards -- the SCs, the STs and the minorities will also get benefit."

"It is important that there are schemes such as Mahila Uddyami Scheme exclusively dedicated to women-run units. Women's self-help groups which function efficiently even with the limited finances, can now grow significantly with increased and focussed institutional finance. This can in the future drive the growth of our women entrepreneurs," the Minister added.

She also expressed hope that MUDRA would also drive development at the grassroots by providing capital to non-farm sector business ventures in our country.

"This is expected to drive development at the grassroots by providing capital to non-farm sector business ventures in our country. According to recent figures, there are 5.77 crore small business units in the country engaged in manufacturing trading and service activities and now with MUDRA, the government can lend a helping hand to such small business units which employ an estimated 12 crore people," she stated.

Almost 5.77 crore small business units across India could expect to grow significantly with sufficient help and guidance from MUDRA, Heptulla said.

She said that the nation was already witnessing the fruits of affirmative action and positive initiative since the present government assumed office sixteen months ago.

MUDRA could also contribute towards the development of socially and economically backward sections of our society as most of the small business units are owned by them.

MUDRA has already created its initial schemes named "Shishu", "Kishor" and "Tarun" for its beneficiaries.

"I am happy to share that as of Tuesday more that 4.1 million accounts have been opened and more than Rs 25,700 crores have been disbursed across the above three schemes." she said.