The Odisha government has involved Women Self Help Groups (WSHG) under Mission Shakti in procurement of paddy in Kalahandi district, an official said on Wednesday.
This is for the first time that WSHGs are being engaged in paddy procurement.
This project has been successfully piloted in Kalahandi district involving 17 WSHGs in 17 gram panchayats (GP) during the current year," the official said.
Till now 2.47 lakh quintal of paddy amounting to Rs 44.15 crore has been procured by all 17 groups with the commission to WSHGs being Rs 77.24 lakh, the official said.
On an average an WSHG has earned Rs 4.5 lakh during the rabi procurement in Kalahandi.
The Women and Child development and Mission Shakti Departments are likely to bring more WSHGs in paddy procurement in other districts during the kharif season.
There were 70 lakh women organised into six lakh self help groups covering all habitations across Odisha.