HYDERABAD: The state government on Sunday requested the central government to start a non-banking financial corporation (NBFC) with an investment of Rs 100 crore for giving credit to self-help groups (SHGs) at cheaper rates of interest.The request was made to Union rural development and panchayat minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on the sidelines of a review meeting conducted by Deshmukh with state government officials here. Without giving any assurance, Deshmukh merely said that his ministry would try to extend whatever help it could.Chief minister N Kiran Kumar said the state government would tap Rs 12,509 crore from the Union rural development ministry for programmes, including the UPA’s flagship programme of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) in the rural areas of the state. "I also requested the minister to increase the number of working days under NREGS,’’ Reddy said. Deshmukh expressed happiness at the progress achieved by the state in the implementation of rural development schemes. He was particularly appreciative of the success achieved by the women of SHGs in the state. “With government deciding to give 50 per cent reservation to women in panchayats, I am sure SHG women who are so articulate during my interaction will do a great job,’’ Deshmukh said. The state government briefed the Union minister on the issues needed to be addressed for better implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). “For the benefit of unemployed youth a skill development programme which can benefit 15 lakh youngsters will be taken up,’’ Kiran Kumar Reddy said. He also requested Deshmukh to upgrade the Andhra Pradesh Academy of Rural Development (APARD) to a Rural University and allocating it a fund of Rs 100 crore.
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