Imphal, April 15: While informing that the benefit of the Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) scheme has been already extended to around 2700 women in Manipur, nodal officer of Rashtriya Mahila Kosh Kh Tompok has appealed to all the people for co-operation in ensuring that the implementation of the scheme may be expanded to cover more beneficiaries.

Instituted under the National Credit Fund, Rashtriya Mahila Kosh, the first and the only scheme for the welfare of the women in India was implemented by the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development in 1993.Talking to mediapersons in connection with the scheme at State Guest House here today, Tompok said for the successful implementation of the Rashtriya Mahila Kosh, nodal agencies are being set both at the State and the regional level.

In case of Manipur, All Backward Classes and Economic Development Organisation has been appointed as the nodal agency.

Exclusively meant for the welfare of women in the society, various loans are being provided under the scheme through the organisations working for the welfare of the women and which fulfils the terms and condition laid down under the scheme.

Organisations like NGOs, VOs, WDCs, COSs, Indira Mahila Block Samitis, agencies of the State Government, Urban Co-operative Banks and VAs which have a track record of working for the welfare of the women in society and registered under the Rashtriya Mahila Kosh for a minimum of three years are entitled to get the loan.

At present, 31 organisations in Manipur have been given the permission for granting the loan under the Rashtriya Mahila Kosh.

Out of this, 6 NGOs have already been sanctioned with the loan while study is under process for granting loan to 12 other NGOs, Tompok disclosed.

Through medium of 6 NGOs against whom loan have been sanctioned, around 2700 women in Manipur have been benefited from the scheme directly in taking up various income generating activities like weaving, pisciculture, pottery and other activities, the nodal officer said.

He further said special thrust and consideration is being given to the North Eastern States while implementing the scheme.

For instance, the condition that a beneficiary organisation should be a body which has been registered for atleast a minimum of three years under RMK has been relaxed to one year in case of organisations from the North Eastern region.

Moreover, among the various loan facilities extended under the scheme, working capital term loan is most suitable for the Manipuri women, Tompok said, adding under this loan even the facility for transportation of the goods produced by the women's Self Help Groups can be arranged apart from construction of the shed for the SHG members where they can work.

While maintaining that the image of Manipur has been not so favourable as many organisations which had taken loan under the scheme do not performed well in the past, Tompok appealed to the people for co-operation in order to reap the benefit of the scheme and cover more beneficiaries.

Comment