Salem District Collector K. Elambahavath on Thursday (October 22) said that so far this year, 9,203 women self-help groups (SHGs) received ₹798.68 crore in loans.

He was presiding over a district-level workshop for bankers on behalf of the Mahalir Thittam.

The District Collector said that on behalf of the Tamil Nadu State Rural/Urban Livelihoods Mission, a one-day orientation workshop (Banker’s Orientation) for bank managers will be held for 10 teams at the district and block levels.

In this workshop, topics such as SHG bank loan linkage, community-based loans, non-performing loans, community bank coordinator work, financial management, social security schemes, interest subsidy, etc. are explained in detail to bankers, the Collector added.

Stating that before the establishment of women SHGs, the formal bank credit in rural areas was very limited. Currently, in Salem district, a total of 21,422 women SHGs function, including 15,931 women SHGs in rural areas and 5,491 women SHGs in urban areas.

A total of 2.47 lakh women, including 1.84 lakh members in rural areas and 62,883 members in urban areas, have been included in women SHGs and have been easily linked to banking institutions. 

In Salem district, for the year 2025-2026, a loan target of ₹1,715 crore to 19,486 women SHGs was fixed and 100% of the target has been achieved.

For the financial year 2026-2027, a target of ₹1,614 crore to 17,805 women SHGs has been set, and until October, 9,203 women SHGs have received ₹798.68 crore in loans, which is 49.48% of the target.

Similarly, a bank loan of ₹10.27 lakh has been provided to 559 women entrepreneurs (women-led enterprises) who are members of self-help groups.

Therefore, bankers should consider the loan applications of eligible women SHGs in a timely manner and take steps to provide loans as per government guidelines and bank regulations, the Collector added.