Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, February 9, 2023: The Punjab Government has released a number of one crore rupees for the year 2022-23 for providing loans at low-interest rates under various self-employment schemes for the welfare of the poor people belonging to the minority sections of the state.
Divulging in this regard, Social Justice, Empowerment and Minorities Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said that an amount of one crore rupees has been released as its share for taking a term loan from NMDFC has been approved by the Punjab government to give loans under self-employment schemes to the poor people of the minority sections of the state.
Under this scheme getting an amount of Rs 18.00 crore from Rastri Corporation NMDFC, loans of Rs 19.00 crore will be distributed to the persons belonging to the minority sections of the state of Punjab.
The corporation will also conduct awareness camps at the district level to provide information regarding the disbursement of loans to eligible persons. She said eligible individuals can start self-employment businesses by getting maximum benefits of this scheme.
The Cabinet Minister said that an amount of One crore rupees was released under this scheme in the last five years during the year 2020-21. Under this scheme, loans of five lakh rupees will be given at the rate of 6-8% annual interest under the self employment scheme to raise the living standards of the minority sections (Sikhs, Christians, Muslims, Parsis, Buddhists and Jains) of the state of Punjab.
Apart from this, loans are given at 3% annual interest rate under the education loan scheme for the students of the minority class of the state of Punjab to pursue professional and technical education graduate and beyond.
Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the applicant should be a permanent citizen of Punjab state and his age should be between 18 to 55 years. Along with this, the applicant should belong to a minority class as declared by the Government of India.
The annual family income of the applicant desirous of availing the loan should be up to Rs.98,000/- in rural areas and up to Rs.1,20,000/- in urban areas.
The minister further said that this loan is provided for dairy farming, poultry farming, vegetable growing, beekeeping, carpentry, furniture, blacksmith work, flour mill, kohlu, auto rickshaw (passenger, haulage), general store (grocery, cattle feed, Poultry Feed), Hardware Store (Mentry and Building Material Iron) etc.
Apart from This, these loan are available for clothing, readymade garment shop, books, stationery shop, bicycle sale and repair, Photostat machine, tailoring, agricultural implements (fabrication), auto mobile repair, spare parts shop, electronics, electrical sale and repair, fabrication unit, Also provided for Photography and Videography, Hosiery Unit, Small Scale Industrial Unit (Any Goods Manufacturing Business), Sweet Shop, Dhaba, Beauty Parlour are also provided.
