Govt to Launch Overdraft Facility for Women SHG Members Under DAY-NRLM

As a part of the Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, Shri Nagendra Nath Sinha, Secretary, Department of Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development will launch the overdraft facility of Rs. 5,000 to verified women SHG members under DAY-NRLM, on 18th December, 2021. The event will also include a “Discourse on Rural Financial Inclusion” in which top officials from Banks and State missions will participate. The annual awards for performance of Banks under DAY-NRLM, during the year 2020-21 will also be announced.

All Public Sector Banks and State Rural Livelihoods Missions will participate in the launching programme which will be held through virtual mode. Managing Directors & Chief Executive Officers/Deputy Managing Directors, Executive Directors, Chief General managers/General Managers of the banks and Chief Executive Officers/State Managing Directors from the State Rural Livelihoods Missions are expected to participate in the programme.

As per the announcement made by the Finance Minister during her Budget Speech of 2019-20 to allow overdraft facility of Rs. 5,000/- to verified SHG members, Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) under Ministry of Rural Development has initiated the process for providing OD facility to women SHG members in the rural areas of the country to meet their immediate/emergency requirements. It is estimated that about 5 crore women SHG members under DAY-NRLM will be eligible for this facility.

After getting the necessary approvals, Indian Banks Association, Mumbai has advised all Banks on 26th November, 2021 to implement this scheme and other necessary details have also been shared. A virtual meeting with Senior Officials of the banks has already been held by the Ministry for successful implementation of this scheme. State Rural Livelihoods Missions, have initiated the process and women SHG members from the rural areas will visit the branches of the banks where they are having their Saving Bank account under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana to avail this facility.

About DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission)

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), a flagship programme of Ministry of Rural Development aims at eliminating rural poverty through mobilizing poor women into community institutions like Self Help Groups (SHGs) and strengthening their livelihood base by accessing necessary credit from banks. The Mission was launched in June, 2011 and as on 15th December, 2021, 8.04 crore rural women have been mobilized into 73.5 Lakh Self Help Groups and it is envisaged that by 2024, about 10 crore women would be mobilized into Self Help Groups.

During this Financial Year upto 30th November, 2021, 27.38 lakhs SHGs have been provided credit by banks to the extent of Rs 62,848 Crores and total credit accessed by the women SHGs is more than Rs.4.45 lakh crores since April, 2013, inter alia to make adequate investment in productive enterprises.  The outstanding balance is of more than Rs. 1,33,915 crores with just 2.49% NPA.  The Mission is using Community Based Repayment Mechanism (CBRM) which is community managed where by a committee with representatives drawn from various SHGs or their federations take responsibility of monitoring SHG banks linkage and also ensure prompt repayment by SHG to banks by enforcing rules and social pressure.