Pune, 3rd December 2024: The Maharashtra government has allocated ₹7 crore for the Women’s Self-Help Group Scheme for the fiscal year 2024-25.

This initiative, spearheaded by the Minority Development Department, focuses on empowering women from minority-dominated areas by organizing them into self-help groups (SHGs), providing financial support, and imparting entrepreneurial skills.

In its first phase, the scheme will establish self-help groups in 12 regions, including Mumbai, Mumbai Suburban, Nanded, Malegaon, Karanja, Parbhani, Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Bhiwandi, Mumbra-Kausa, and Miraj.

Around 2,400 SHGs will be formed, and 13 community-operated resource centers will be developed over an eight-year period to support these groups.

Between 2012 and 2020, the Women’s Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) successfully formed 3,200 self-help groups and eight resource centers under this program.

The scheme, initially scheduled to conclude in 2020, was extended until March 31, 2025, allowing continued support to minority communities.

For the current fiscal year, ₹3.83 crore has been approved based on the utilization certificates submitted for the previous year. The scheme aims to disburse 60% of the allocated budget by December 2024, with the remaining amount contingent upon the submission of utilization reports.

WEDC has been tasked with maintaining comprehensive financial records and ensuring that all funds are utilized solely for the intended purposes. These measures aim to enhance transparency and accountability in implementing the scheme.