Patnaik announces 6 lakh free smartphones for women’s groups

Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday announced six lakh free smart phones for women’s self help groups in the state claiming that it will empower them. The self help groups have a total membership of seven million women.

“Women's empowerment is something very close to my heart. No household, no society, no state and no country has ever moved forward without empowering its women. Our women have come a long way and the next ceiling to be broken is the digital one," said Patnaik, while addressing women entrepreneurs on the 4th day of the Make In Odisha conclave.

Around 70 lakh women who are members of the SHGs will benefit from the move. Officials familiar with the matter said the cost implication of the scheme has not been worked out as yet.

Political analyst and retired political science professor Surya Mishra said Patnaik wooing the women was understandable. BJD has won the last four assembly polls solely on the backing of women voters. "In 2014, over 74 per cent of women voted in the election, a huge jump from 50 per cent in 2009. A large part of the votes must have gone BJD way," said Mishra.

Patnaik said from the day he assumed office of CM in 2000, his government has been conscious of the great role women can play, especially in a state like Odisha which has challenging socio-economic indicators."In 2001, we started Mission Shakti as a project. There is no habitation in the state without a Mission Shakti group. Almost every second household has a member in mission Shakti. Today it has transformed into a movement — 70 lakh women, six lakh groups, ~5000 crore savings and ~2000 crore annual bank exposure. The repayment is more than 95 per cent unlike many others.

My government honours their sincerity by providing SHGs loans at one per cent rate of interest," he said."Some years ago, a collector of a tribal district told me that banks compete with each other to finance Mission Shakti Groups. I know many of my banker friends are here. The easiest way to please me and my government is to meet the credit requirement of Mission Shakti groups in a dignified and professional manner."

BJP spokesman Sajjan Sharma described the smartphone announcement as a desparate attempt to hide the poor track record of the government in making the women feel safe. “Everyday women are getting sexually assaulted and the CM who heads home department has not been able to make them feel safe. How would the smartphone help the members of women self help group? ,” said Sharma.

“Besides, what brand the CM has created in last 18 years though 17 years have passed since SHG movement started,” he asked.

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