96,274 Self-Help Groups Serve Over 7 Lakh Women in Jammu Kashmir | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Government papers tabled in the Legislative Assembly show that 96,274 self-help groups (institutions of poor) are currently active across the Union Territory and together cater to 788,769 women, the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj told legislators. The figures are recorded in Annexure A of the department’s reply, which provides a district-wise breakdown of the coverage.

Over the last three financial years the Union Territory was allocated Rs 467.73 crore under the Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihood Mission, of which Rs 324.61 crore has been released — about 69.4 per cent of the allocations. For 2025-26 the department says Rs 9,089.48 lakhs (Rs 90.89 crore) were allotted and Rs 6806.84 lakhs released so far.

Officials told the Assembly that Rs 46,773.09 lakhs (Rs 467.73 crore) were allotted across 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25, and Rs 32,461.25 lakhs (Rs 324.61 crore) were released in the same period. During 2025-26, an additional Rs 9,089.48 lakhs was allotted and Rs 806.84 lakhs released up to the date of the reply.

The department said the total of 96,274 active self-help groups serves 788,769 women across all districts. The reply notes that the NRLM management information system is being updated regularly and was used to compile the figures.

Officials listed the year-wise allocations and releases: allocations of Rs 6,754.36 lakhs, Rs 20,000.00 lakhs and Rs 20,018.73 lakhs in the three years under review, with corresponding releases of Rs 3,377.18 lakhs, Rs 15,000.00 lakhs and Rs 14,084.07 lakhs. For the current year the department has recorded an allocation of Rs 9,089.48 lakhs and a release of Rs 806.84 lakhs to date.