The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Priority for poverty-alleviation: Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 30, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Priority for poverty-alleviation: Minister

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, AUG. 29 . The Minister for Rural Development, D. Srinivas, has said that the State Government is committed to cover all the poorest of the poor under its rural development programmes in the next three years.

SHG movement

Speaking at a meeting organised jointly by the Velugu and the NABARD on Saturday here, Mr. Srinivas said one third of self-help group movement in the country was taking place in the State. Poverty alleviation programme would be given top priority to uplift the poor, the Minister said.

Mr. Srinivas said steps should be taken up for productive activity and proper utilisation of funds. He said not even a single village should be left out of the SHG movement and SHGs should learn discipline and make every effort to develop thrift groups into organised sector.

The Chief Executive Officer, Velugu project, T. Vijay Kumar, requested banks to focus on remote villages and tribal areas. He asked banks for flexibility in extending loans to the SHGs and the repayment structure.

Banks' help sought

He wanted workshops to be organised at the district-level so that the SHG movement was sustained and strengthened further. The Rural Development Commissioner, K. Raju, said the SHG movement in the State had taught a few lessons which needed to be emulated.

The Development of Rain Shadow Region Secretary, M.G. Gopal, requested the banks to finance SHGs for growing bio-diesel plantations.

The Chief General Manager, NABARD, J.R. Sarangal, the General Manager, B.K. Mahanta also spoke.

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