Politics over SHGs: BJP takes swipe at BJD for claiming credit for Rs125cr interest waiver 

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday came down heavily on the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) for the latter’s claim of credit for interest subvention benefits provided to women SHGs under Mission Shakti. 

Addressing a presser at the State party office in Bhubaneswar, BJP Mahila Morcha President Smruti Patnaik said, “She is wrongfully holding a government job. She should have been made the BJD’s spokesperson. I am talking about Sujata Kartikeyan (Secretary of Mission Shakti department ). Yesterday she had disbursed interest subvention benefits amounting to Rs 125 crore loans and said the money was being provided by Naveen Babu. Is it the fact that Naven Babu is giving away the money?  Out of Rs125 crore subvention, the Centre’s share is Rs 88 crore and the State’s share is only Rs 37 crore. People should know about it.”

“The Centre is providing loans to SHGs through NABARD under its Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission. While the Centre is giving seven percent of the total interest amount, the State is giving only four percent. But when it comes to taking the credit, the BJD is always at the front,” she added. 

At the same time, BJP State President Sameer Mohanty also launched a broadside against the BJD. 

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made large scale financial arrangement under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission. The copy-paste government (the BJD) is doing only vote bank politics. As per the PM, the day when the women of our nation pay income tax, then it would be construed proper empowerment of women has been achieved, ” said Mohanty. The BJD is yet to come up with its reaction.