SHILLONG, FEB 25: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma told the Assembly on Wednesday that Meghalaya’s self-help group (SHG) network has grown from about 4,000-5,000 groups in 2018-19 to 53,000 today, mobilizing roughly Rs 1,100 crore in credit and covering 90% of households.
“A minimum of 10 to 15 women are required to form an SHG; there is no need to register,” Sangma said, explaining that the Meghalaya State Rural Livelihoods Society (MSRLS) facilitates bank linkage. Unlike individual borrowers who must furnish collateral, “when they are a group they don’t need to show collateral… they can open a bank account and form an SHG,” with loans priced at 7 percent interest.
“95% of loans are being repaid on time by different SHGs,” he said, noting that banks have disbursed Rs 755 crore to groups and that over 40,888 SHGs are servicing repayments regularly. “It reflects how responsible the system has been.”
In total, he said, close to Rs 1,100 crore is at the disposal of SHGs, benefiting more than 58,000 women’s groups, with about 70% as bank loans.
Sangma credited the MSRLS team and said, “Officers have worked day and night… there is truly a movement at the grassroots level.”
He added that membership has risen from 40,000 women eight years ago to 5.8 lakh now, with credit flows up from under Rs 100 crore to today’s levels.
Responding to Mawlai MLA Brightstarwell Chyne (VPP) on low uptake in the city’s most populous seat, the chief minister said SHG formation is voluntary. “We have to remember that formation of SHGs is purely based on individuals who want to come together… efforts are made in every block.”
He observed weaker urban response in Mawlai and Mawpat compared with rural pockets such as Mawsynram, but said equal efforts continue: “Right now we have covered 90% of households; our endeavour is to cover 100 percent.”
On strengthening livelihoods, Sangma said 41,323 members are already “lakhpatis” and the government is working to help them become “10-lakh rupees millionaires,” urging more groups to reach that threshold.
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