Lucknow: The downtrodden class, which struggled for its own survival in the previous governments, is now in the position to provide employment opportunities to others. The families living below the poverty line have their own pucca shops while some are setting up their own business by getting loans without interest.
In this regard, more than nine schemes of Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (SCFDC) have worked to change the furtune of the unemployed youth of under-privileged class.
The Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Self Employment Scheme of SCFDC has brought a big change in the lives of the SC youth. With the support of banks, the department provided loans up to Rs 10 lakh in the field of agriculture, industry and service business at an interest rate of just 4 percent. Also, a margin money of 25 percent was given.
According to the corporation, 20,516 applications were submitted till July under this scheme in the financial year 2021-22. Out of this, loans were given to 1,767 applicants, from which they started their own business. Under the Urban Area Shop Construction Scheme, out of 1,000 shops, 250 shops were constructed in July, while 396 shops are under construction. Under this scheme, unemployed people having BPL cards who have their own land are provided interest-free loans ranging from Rs 78,000 to Rs 85,000 and a grant amount of Rs 10,000 is given by the department.
Self Reliant Women
Scheduled Finance Development Corporation is making all the efforts to make women and youth self-reliant. Under the Atta / Masala Chakki scheme, 2250 women in each district will be connected with this. They will be provided with an interest-free loan of Rs 20,000 and Atta/Masala Chakki will be made available to them.
A grant of Rs 10,000 will be given by the department, while the remaining amount will be given to women in 36 months. At present, 17 women have been selected under this scheme. Apart from this, work is being done to fulfil the dreams of the poor through other schemes including Asha Scheme, Tailoring Scheme, etc.
