The Odisha government on Tuesday approved a special package of Rs 200 crore to boost the state’s rural economy badly hit by the corona pandemic.

Under the package special, financial assistance will be provided to the poor, extremely poor and migrant workers in the next six months.

Panchayati raj and drinking water minister Pratap Jena said: “Chief minister Naveen Patnaik today approved the special Covid-19 package to help the people of rural areas. The women self help groups (WSHGs) also can take advantage of the scheme. Nearly 60 lakh families in rural areas have registered as women self help groups and can avail the benefits of the scheme. “

Jena said: “It will also help migrant workers who had returned to the state during the pandemic to initiate various types of economic activities.”

Under the scheme, the WSHGs can avail a one time loan of Rs 50,000 for the development of nano and micro enterprises. The loan can be availed by any member of the women self-help group or any of her family members.

To promote agriculture and non-agriculture sectors, the Odisha government has also promised to extend financial assistance of Rs 1.5 lakh as a loan. “These can be availed by those small industrial units which have already completed a life circle of more than six months. The manufacturing units which are older than one year can also take the loan. Mainly producer groups and new enterprises will benefit from the scheme,” said the minister.

The state government also promised to provide loan assistance of Rs 20,000 to micro units operated by the extremely poor people, widows and destitutes. “We will also provide Rs 1 lakh loan assistance to skilled and semi-skilled migrants, who have returned to the state. They can utilise the money to start a new enterprise. They will also be given the freedom to utilise the money to revive various small units which are lying closed,” officials maintained.

Officials said that nearly 10 lakh migrants have already returned to the state from various parts of the country after losing their jobs. Though many of them have started going back some might stay back.

Sources said if the government required more funds it will utilize the District mineral (DMF) funds and Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation (OMBADC) fund.