The Andhra Pradesh Government has asked the District Collectors to help out women self-help groups (SHGs) that suffered severely under micro-finance institutes in the State.

Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Chief Minister, asked them to identify the problem quite early and take measures to resolve it.

“We should have nipped the bud quite early. Had we done so, we could have averted the MFI crisis,” he said, referring to the severe crisis caused by private MFIs.

The Government started Rs 1,000-crore Stree Nidhi (Women Fund) after the MFI crisis to give women loans up to Rs 15,000 within 48 hours.

The two-day meeting, which is usually held annually, could not be organised last year because of political turmoil.

At least eight Ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister, Mr D. Raja Narasimha, and the Minister for Industries and Sugar, Dr J. Geeta Reddy, joined the conference late.

e-revenue certificate by March

Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy has asked the collectors to gear up for introduction of Mee-Seva (Your Service) by the end of March 31, 2012 across the State. “We have introduced this scheme as a pilot in Chittoor district,” he said.

The scheme allows people to get revenue certificates (such as birth and registration) online, without having to go to the Government offices.

He also asked them to focus on flagships programmes such as housing, irrigation, and one-kg rice for one rupee.

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