Lok Sabha Question No. 1232 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-09
Subject: Objectives of Rashtriya Mahila Kosh
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Jayant Sinha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1232 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2024

## OBJECTIVES OF RASHTRIYA MAHILA KOSH

1232.  SHRI JAYANT SINHA:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) The salient features and objectives of Rashtriya Mahila Kosh; and
- (b) the  details  of  the  loan  schemes  being  implemented  under  Rashtriya  Mahila Kosh along with the funds allocated, sanctioned, released and untilised in 202223, State-wise and particularly in Jharkhand, district-wise ?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) & (b) : Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) is a society, registered under the Societies Registration  Act  1860  and  an  apex  micro-finance  organization  established  in  1993 under the aegis of Ministry of Women & Child Development (MWCD).

The main objective of setting up of RMK was to provide micro-credit to poor women for various livelihood support and income generating activities at concessional terms in a client-friendly procedure to bring about their socio-economic development.

The target  beneficiaries  are  entrepreneurs from different  economic  activities viz.,  Agriculture,  Horticulture,  Pisciculture,  Dairying,  Poultry  &  Animal  Husbandry, Traditional  &  Modern  Handicraft,  Small  Business  such  as  petty  shop,  teashop, vegetable  &  fruit  shop  etc.,  Working  Capital,  Asset  creation  &  Asset  redemption, Housing, and any other income generating activities in which borrowing women are capable to undertake for livelihood activities.

The Scheme/Loan products of RMK were - (i) Loan Promotion Scheme (ii) Main Loan  Scheme  (iii)  Gold  Credit  Card  Scheme  (iv)  Housing  Loan  Scheme  and  (v) Working Capital Term Loan.

The RMK has not sanctioned or disbursed any micro finance loans during the financial year 2022-23.

Over a period of time, substantial alternative credit facility mechanisms have become available to women entrepreneurs through various Government initiatives like Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojna and Stand up India. The activities being performed by RMK are being performed by Banks who have provided linkage to Self Help Groups (SHGs)  of  over  Rs.8.15  lakh  Crores  till  date  under  Deendayal  Antyodaya  YojanaNation Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). Nearly 10 crore households are now connected with over 90 Lakh Women SHGs that are transforming rural socio-economic landscape in several innovative and socially and ecologically responsible way.

Based on  the  report  on  'rationalisation  of  autonomous  bodies',  by  the  then Principal  Economic  Advisor,  Department  of  Economic  Affairs  (DEA),  a  proposal  of Ministry to close down 3 organisations, including 'Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK)' was approved on 6th April, 2023. The services of all the regular employees of RMK have ceased to exist w.e.f. 31st December, 2023 and they have all been granted all benefits they are entitled to under Special Voluntary Retirement Scheme (SVRS). Further, all activities of RMK have been closed w.e.f. 31st December, 2023 and the outstanding loan portfolio has been transfer to SIDBI on 'as is where is basis' from the same date.

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