₹250.54 crore support announced for SHGs through interest refund and community funds; new CINI and OREDA partnerships to expand livelihoods and green enterprise
GTNS | ODISHA
OCTOBER 6, 2026
BHUBANESWAR: Odisha’s women-led self-help group network is being positioned as a major force in the State’s next phase of economic and social development, with Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida calling for stronger financial capacity, enterprise development and sustainable livelihoods for women.
At a programme held at Mission Shakti Bhawan in Bhubaneswar, financial assistance was extended to thousands of women’s self-help groups and their community-level organisations.
A total of ₹99.26 crore was transferred as interest reimbursement to 1,79,809 SHGs, while another ₹151.28 crore was released through different community funds. Together, the latest assistance represents ₹250.54 crore in support for women-led grassroots institutions.
Parida said the objective is not merely to provide financial assistance but to create the conditions in which more women can build sustainable livelihoods, expand enterprises and emerge as “Lakhpati Didis.”
She said women’s collective strength would increasingly shape Odisha’s social and economic progress.
Financial support reaches grassroots institutions
The latest package includes ₹29.31 crore in revolving funds for 15,526 SHGs, ₹113.80 crore in Community Investment Funds for 371 Gram Panchayat-level federations, and ₹8.18 crore in security funds for 605 regional-level federations.
The revolving-fund support covers SHGs across 29 districts, while the Community Investment Fund has been extended to federations in 26 districts. Security-fund assistance covers 605 regional platforms across 19 districts.
The programme was designed to strengthen the financial base of women’s institutions and enable them to invest in livelihood activities and community enterprises.
Khordha SHGs receive interest refunds
Women representatives from Khordha were among those receiving cheques during the programme.
Maa Chanchelei SHG received ₹38,927, Sai Ram SHG received ₹37,958, and Sai Unnati SHG received ₹37,847 as interest reimbursement.
Similarly, representatives of SHGs from other districts received assistance under the revolving-fund, community-investment and security-fund components.
Among the beneficiaries receiving revolving-fund cheques were Om Sai Ram and Hari Shankar SHGs from Cuttack and Sri Satya Sai and Baibhav Laxmi SHGs from Jajpur, with the concerned groups receiving ₹30,000 each.
From Puri, representatives of Algom and Gadmotari Gram Panchayat-level federations received community investment fund cheques of ₹45 lakh and ₹35 lakh, respectively.
From Ganjam, representatives of Gundadurisahi and Karadabani regional federations received ₹1.50 lakh each under the security-fund component.
₹575 crore interest-refund provision in 2026-27
The State has earmarked ₹575 crore in the 2026-27 Budget for interest reimbursement to SHGs.
Earlier, on June 24, 2026, interest reimbursement of ₹147.77 crore had been provided to 2,88,198 SHGs. With the latest release of ₹99.26 crore, the total interest reimbursement during the current financial year has reached ₹247.03 crore in two phases.
The State has also fixed a ₹20,000-crore bank-credit target for SHGs for 2026-27. The strategy combines institutional credit with interest reimbursement and community funds to strengthen the financial resources available to women for livelihoods and enterprise development.
CINI, OREDA partnerships add new dimension
The programme also marked a shift toward new livelihood models.
Mission Shakti signed an MoU with Collective for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives (CINI) aimed at expanding and promoting the Lakhpati Didi initiative.
Another collaboration was signed with the Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) to promote green entrepreneurship and renewable-energy use among women SHGs.
The OREDA partnership is expected to create opportunities for rural women to explore environmentally sustainable enterprises while developing more stable and long-term sources of income.
Women’s collectives become economic institutions
The latest assistance reflects a broader approach in which SHGs are being treated not only as community groups but also as potential economic institutions capable of managing funds, creating enterprises and supporting local livelihoods.
Mission Shakti Commissioner-cum-Secretary Mansi Nimbhal, Director Dr Monika Priyadarshini, the Convenor of SLBC Odisha, senior departmental officials, banking representatives, partner organisations, OREDA and CINI representatives, district officials and SHG members participated in the programme, including through virtual platforms.
The emerging message from the initiative is clear: Odisha’s women are increasingly being positioned not just as beneficiaries of development programmes, but as entrepreneurs, community investors and drivers of the State’s growth.
GTNS | BHUBANESWAR