Bhubaneswar: The state govt on Tuesday released Rs 99.26 crore in interest subvention to 1,79,809 self-help groups (SHGs) across Odisha, taking the total interest subsidy released to SHGs in the current financial year to Rs 247.03 crore.Deputy chief minister Pravati Parida released the assistance at a programme organised by the Mission Shakti department in Bhubaneswar. The govt has made a budget provision of Rs 575 crore for interest subvention to SHGs in 2026-27. An earlier tranche of Rs 147.77 crore had been released to 2,88,198 SHGs on June 24.The govt has set a target of Rs 20,000 crore in bank credit linkage for SHGs during 2026-27, with interest subvention and community funds intended to supplement bank finance for livelihoods and women-led enterprises.Apart from the interest subsidy, the department released Rs 151.28 crore under three community-based financial support programmes. This included Rs 29.31 crore as revolving fund for 15,526 SHGs, Rs 113.80 crore as community investment fund for 371 panchayat-level federations and Rs 8.18 crore as vulnerability reduction fund for 605 area- level federations.The revolving fund assistance was distributed among SHGs in 29 districts, while the community investment fund was released to federations across 26 districts. The vulnerability reduction fund covered federations in 19 districts.Parida said the govt was focusing on strengthening the financial and institutional capacity of SHGs and their federations to create livelihood opportunities and expand women-led enterprises.The department also signed two memoranda of understanding during the programme. One was with the Collective for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives to support expansion of the Lakhpati Didi initiative, while another with the Odisha Renewable Energy Development Agency (OREDA) aims to promote green entrepreneurship among women SHGs. Parida said the OREDA collaboration will focus on encouraging women SHG members to take up renewable-energy-based enterprises and other environmentally sustainable livelihood activities.