Imphal, March 29: Heaping praise on the formation of self help groups in the State, former Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam popularly known as RB today expressed his optimism that the formation of SHGs and its effective functioning will dispel darkness in the lives of many women who are living below poverty line in the State.

The former Chief Minister was speaking as a chief guest at the one day seminar on credit linkage for business development planning through SHG problems and prospects organised by National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI), Women Cooperative Education Project, Imphal East under the sponsorship of NCUI, New Delhi held at Ima Khunthokhanbi Sanglen, Thangmeiband.

He said that for effective functioning of SHGs, the development of self is a must and next comes the development of family which will directly bring a sea change in the socio-economic condition of the women members.

The former Chief Minister urged the delegates to take full advantage of the schemes launched by the Central Government meant for the upliftment of women through SHG and work for their socio-economic upliftment.

Radhabinod who is also the president of NCP, Manipur pradesh assured the delegates that he will take the matter with Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar of opening a new NCUI project in Imphal West.

The former CM also lamented the non presence of any Government officials, ministers from the State at the North East Agri Expo 2006 inaugurated at Dimapur by the Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar.

Kh Borkeshor Singh, chairman NCUI project coordination committee in his presidential speech said that the micro credit finance extended to SHGs was initiated jointly by the Government of India and Reserve Bank of India under NABARD's pilot project.

He said the project plans to form 200 SHGs in Thangmeiband area out of which 150 are for women and remaining for man.

Former MLA and member, management committee ICM, Imphal A Bimola Devi and Ch Dinachandra , chairman monitoring cell Thangmeiband Kendra SHG also spoke on the occasion.

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