From Our Correspondent
TURA: An awareness programme on Women Economic Empowerment through financial inclusion was held at Garobadha HS School at Garobadha in West Garo Hills on Monday.
The programme, organised by the Selsella Block Development Officer, aimed at disseminating vital information to the people on the scheme, which comes under the State’s Integrated Basin Development and Livelihood Promotion Programme.
Addressing the gathering, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Zenith M Sangma said that through the scheme, beneficiaries will be granted Rs 5,000 as seed money from the government to establish their chosen livelihood activity, while Rs 20,000 will be granted as a loan based on the initial amount through concerned banks.
Sangma added that 21,000 families have already been listed and forecasted that the entire state will have been covered under the scheme by 2014.
Stressing on the need of the women of the region to be more proactive the Minister urged the beneficiaries to be diligent and industrious in their endeavors so as to be able to pay back the concerned banks their dues.
West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi claimed that the flagship initiative has been recognised by other states, who have praised it.
Sangma went on to elaborate on the repayment provisions of the scheme, explaining that beneficiaries will only have to repay their loans from the second year after receiving the aid with an interest rate of 6 percent.
The Minister also described the government’s initiative to provide housing through the Affordable Housing Scheme, which is scheduled to be finalised at the end of the year. It will provide two-bedroom housing for 1 lakh families and the houses will be built with Swiss technology.