Imphal, December 04: To help women find self employment and generate income a total of Rs 3 lakhs was distributed to 150 Self Help Groups of Sugnu Assembly Constituencies during a function at Sugnu bazar today.

The amount given in cheques of Rs 20,000 each was distributed to 150 different Self Help Groups, each comprising of 20 members each by the Manipur Rural Bank under the Micro-Credit Linkage system.

The women SHGs had undergone training under the Institute of Co-operative Management.

Speaking at the function as chief guest, Chairman of LDA, MLA N Loken acknowledged the role taken up by the ICM and MRB.

He said the Self Help Groups should be extended all possible help so that they help in bettering the economic conditions of the people and generate income.

He urged the 150 SHGs to work hard and repay the first instalment of Rs 20,000 each to the MRB so that they may avail the next instalment.

If the loans are not repaid then their will not be any further installment.

Giving out such a huge amount covering 3000 women at one time may perhaps be the first time in Manipur, said Loken and added that there is a lesson for the people of other Assembly Constituencies to learn a lesson from Sugnu.

Loken added that SHGs in his Constituency, that is Oinam AC, are also trying their best to promote the SHG movement.

MANITRON Chairman MLA Bijoy Koijam said that SHGs have been a great success at his Thongju AC.

One group has even taken a loan of Rs 5 lakhs to generate more income, he informed the gathering.

Chairman of Manipur Pollution Control Board and MLA from Heingang AC, N Biren also echoed the same line and said that SHGs have also been a great help to the people of his Constituency.

The problem of unemployment faced earlier was chiefly because of the lack of far sightedness on the part of political leaders, he observed.

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