Union Minister for Rural Development Jairam Ramesh has said that the government is all set to provide loans to women self help groups at concessional rate of seven per cent from April 1 next year.

Addressing the national conference on community-based approaches for inclusive growth in Hyderabad, the Minister said, for another 150 districts, selected on parameters such as naxal-infested areas, tribal areas and other categories, interest rate will be further slashed to four per cent.

Mr. Ramesh said, the Self Help Groups could take the opportunity to act as franchise for 'Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme' to ensure that the cash is reaching the targeted beneficiaries.

He said it is not a scheme where money is deposited in the accounts. It involves cash transfer and SHG women can utilise their network as banking correspondents for effective delivery of cash at the door steps. Currently, rates at which the loan is provided to Self Help Groups vary from state to state.