Objective: It
is a Self-Employment Programme sponsored by the Central government.
Assistance is given to the poor families living below the poverty line
in rural areas.
How: People taking up
Self-Employment can do activity either individually or in Groups, called
the Self-Help Groups. For successful Self-Employment, it is necessary
to take up the right activity. For this purpose, 4 to 5 activities are
selected in each Block with the help of officials, non-officials and
the Bankers. These are called ‘Key Activities’, and should be such that
they give the Swarozgaris an income of Rs. 2000 per month, net of Bank
loan repayment. If any BPL person feel that he/she can gainfully
take up any activity he/she should immediately approach the
Sarpanch/Chairman/Head or the BDO or the Branch Manager of the nearest
Bank.
Self-Help Group :
A
Self- Help Group (SHG) generally is a team of 10-20 persons. However,
in difficult areas like deserts, hills and areas with scattered and
sparse population and in case of minor irrigation and disabled persons,
this number may be from 5 to 20.
Compositions of Self-Help Group :
In
most cases, members of the SHG should be to families below the poverty.
However, if necessary, a maximum of 20%, and in exceptional cases,
where essentially required, upto a maximum of 30% of the members in a
Group may be from families marginally above the poverty line, living
continuously with BPL families and if they are acceptable to BPL members
of the Group. The APL members of Group will not be eligible for subsidy
under the scheme and shall not become office bearers (group leader,
assistant group leader or treasurer ) of the group. The BPL families
must actively participate in the management and decision making which
should not be entirely in the hands of APL families.
Subsidy Norms for SHGs and Disabled persons :
Subsidy
will be uniform at 30% of the project cost, subject to a maximum of Rs.
7500/-. In respect of SC/STs and disabled persons however, these will
be 50% and Rs. 10,000/- respectively. For SHGs, the subsidy would be 50%
of the project cost subject to per capital subsidy of Rs. 10,000/- or
monetary limit on subsidy for irrigation projects.