Focus on establishing new SHGs: Dana Kishore to officials

Principal Secretary of the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) Department Dana Kishore has directed officials to prioritise the establishment of new Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and ensure that all eligible women are enrolled as members. He emphasised the importance of identifying eligible women who are not part of any SHGs and forming new groups to strengthen economic and social development.
During a review meeting held at the MAUD office conference hall on Saturday, Dana Kishore discussed SHG bank linkage targets, the formation of new groups, entrepreneurship development, and related initiatives with GHMC and MEPMA officials. He urged officials to focus on strengthening existing groups while creating new ones and encouraged women’s participation in SHGs as a means of achieving economic independence and empowerment.
He instructed the District Collectors and municipal commissioners to conduct meetings and form new SHGs. The Principal Secretary highlighted that SHGs play a crucial role in fostering women’s social and economic progress, contributing significantly to their self-reliance and overall development.
Dana Kishore proposed an orientation programme for TMCs, community organisers, RPs, GHMC PDs, and MEPMA project officers to ensure effective implementation. He set a deadline of December for the formation of new SHGs and completion of member registrations. These new SHGs are to be linked with Area Level Federations (ALFs) and Town Federations to ensure proper integration.
The Principal Secretary stressed need to achieve bank linkage targets by providing loans to SHGs as per defined goals. He directed the preparation of a monthly action plan and set a target of disbursing loans worth Rs 200 crore monthly through GHMC bank linkages. He also emphasised introducing business orientation programs for matured SHGs and promoting women entrepreneurs. Workshops with bankers were recommended to facilitate this process.
Dana Kishore suggested identifying local NGOs and civil society organizations to support entrepreneurship development. He called for NGO mapping at the DC and PD levels to streamline efforts. Additionally, he proposed conducting workshops for GHMC zonal commissioners, deputy commissioners, municipal commissioners, CSOs, NGOs, bankers, ACLBs, and PDs.
Dana Kishore also highlighted the importance of preparation for the carnival scheduled for December 7–9 at Tank Bund and instructed officials to plan activities accordingly. He emphasized the need to train SHGs and existing federations through dedicated training centers and banks with specialized modules. Twenty trainers will be identified to train members of community-based organizations, ALFs, and TLFs.  
The Principal Secretary directed DCs and municipal commissioners to regularly attend TLF and ALF meetings and oversee bank linkages, fund disbursements, and training for SHGs. MAUD Deputy Secretary Priyanka will monitor these activities, ensuring robust implementation of SHG-related initiatives in coordination with GHMC’s UCD division.
Participants in the meeting included CDMA Director Sridevi, MAUD Deputy Secretary Priyanka, GHMC Additional Commissioner (UCD) Chandrakant Reddy, Joint Commissioner Venkateswara Rao, and MEPMA State Mission Coordinators Padma, along with other GHMC project directors.