PSCFC provides direct loans to SCs

Chandigarh, August 4, 2013: SAD-BJP Government is committed to uplift the social and economic status of the scheduled castes and backward classes through the well-knit welfare schemes launched by the state government under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister, Punjab Parkash Singh.

Disclosing this here today Scheduled castes and backward classes welfare minister, Punjab Gulazar Singh Ranike said that Punjab Scheduled Castes Land Development & Finance Corporation was providing direct loans to the Scheduled castes of the State out of its share capital provided by the Government and Government of India in the ratio of 51:49.

The Minister said that corporation was executing direct lending scheme, economic venture scheme and the scheme pertaining to the liberation and rehabilitation scavengers. Besides this corporation was also utilizing its share capital in varying proportions in the schemes being run in collaboration with National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation (NSKFDC) and National Handicapped Finance Development Corporation (NHFDC) like Karyana Shop, electrical shop, handloom, transport vehicle scheme, cloth shop, cycle/scooter repair shop, goat raring scheme and shoe making scheme, added the minister.

The Minister further said that besides this the corporation had introduced a bank tie up loaning scheme through schemes to the scheduled caste families living below the poverty line. He said that the loan facilities have been ensured to the scheduled caste persons at very nominal rates of interests ranging from 0% to 8% for different income generating purposes. Besides this a short term skill development training to educated unemployed scheduled caste youth through government/semi government institutions was also being imparted. Beneficiaries were also provided stipend @Rs.1000 per beneficiary per month during the course of training, added the minister.

The Minister said that the paid up share capital of the corporation up to 2012-13 is Rs.74.17 crore out of which state share is Rs.39.90 crore against an expenditure of 11.67 crore. As many as 5025 beneficiaries had been given the benefit from the various schemes.

The Minister further said that an outlay of Rs.4.91 crore was provided for annual plan 2012-13 whereas Rs.5.42 crore were provided for the year 2013-14. The target was to cover about 1400 beneficiaries during 2013-14, he added.