Chief minister Arjun Munda at the launch of Harsh in Ranchi on Wednesday. (Hardeep Singh)

Here’s a chance for rural folks to craft a better future.

Chief minister Arjun Munda on Wednesday launched a training programme — a joint initiative of Jharcraft and Nabard (National Agriculture and Rural Development Bank) — under which villagers will be taught to think business on their feet.

Christened Harsh (Handicraft Associated Rural Self-Help Groups), the programme will see Jharcraft constituting over 1.5 lakh self-help groups (SHGs) across the state. These groups will be trained in different trades and linked with banks so that they get funds to start small enterprises. The products made by them will then be marketed by Jharcraft. Nabard has granted Rs 15 crore to Jharcraft for the project.

“Under Harsh, Jharcraft will create as many as 50,000 SHGs in the next six months. The aim is to develop rural economy through these groups,” said Munda while launching the scheme at Sri Krishna Institute of Public Administration.

The event was also graced by Nabard chief general manager S. Saravanavel, industry secretary A.P. Singh and Jharcraft managing director Dhirendra Kumar.

Jharcraft will also teach the SHGs how to save, lend small loans to group members, take soft loans from banks and repay them.

“We will require a whopping amount of Rs 2,500 crore to make this venture successful,” said industry secretary Singh, urging banks to join hands with the government to strengthen rural economy.

As many as 85,000 SHGs, formed by both the government and NGOs, are functioning in rural pockets of the state. Each group comprises about 10-20 members and are involved in various livelihood activities like poultry, pickle-making, apiculture and tussar silk production.