By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, November 29, 2016 : In a bid to consolidates its support among women ahead of the panchayat polls, chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday doubled the easy credit linkage to Rs 1000 crores, which will help double the income of women self help group [SHG] members.

Women – part of different SHGs in Odisha under the Mission Shkati programme, have played a crucial role in the ruling Biju Janata Dal’s [BJD] consistent electoral success in the state.

“In Odisha, Mission Shakti is a success story. We have reduced the interest rate to 1 per cent and also doubled the credit linkage to Rs 1000 crores. This will help to double the income of our women SHG members consisting of more than 50 lakh women,” the chief minister and the BJD president, Patnaik said while addressing a gathering of women SHG members organized by the state panchayati raj department.

The programme was organized to mark celebration of birth centenary year of former chief minister Biju Patnaik and 80 years completion of Odisha as a separate state.

Women members of SHG can avail loan at one per cent interest rate within a year.

“With an increase in income, the women of our state would be able to ensure education for their children and healthcare services for their family members,” he said.

The chief minister lamented that women SHG members are facing trouble due to restrictions of transactions by different banks post demonetization

“I have discussed the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during my recent New Delhi visit,” Naveen added.

The opposition parties dubbed the programme as BJD’s campaign for rural polls and slammed for mutualizing the government fund for BJD’s political gain.