BANGALORE: A new self-employment scheme — `Asare' — will be launched by the State Government shortly for the benefit of unemployed women in distress.

Minister for Women and Child Welfare H.K. Kumaraswamy told presspersons here on Thursday that the Government would help these women to get a loan of Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 2 lakh under the scheme from commercial banks.

There was also the proposal that the Department of Women and Child Welfare itself provide loans to the beneficiaries at an interest rate of 6 per cent by obtaining the requisite funds from the Finance Department.

Such a measure was being contemplated to help the beneficiaries to obtain loans easily and at a lower rate of interest.

He said to begin with, about 50 women from each district would be selected under the scheme. Later, the department would increase the number of beneficiaries to 100 from each taluk. At present, the department had allocated Rs. 5 crore for launching the new scheme.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said it was the Chief Minister's experience at the "Janata Darshan" that made the Government design such a scheme. Most of the petitions received by the Chief Minister at the Janata Darshan were from women in distress — widows and those abandoned by their husbands. These women wanted assistance from the Government to become economically independent.

Even those who had failed in SSLC would be considered for assistance to take up self-employment, the Minister said.

Bhagyalakshmi Scheme

Mr. Kumaraswamy also stated that UTI and LIC had come forward to manage the deposits under the Bhagyalakshmi Scheme. Under the scheme, the Government would deposit Rs. 10,000 in the name of the girl child born into the below the poverty line (BPL) families from April 1, 2006.

The deposit could be taken by the girl child only after she attained the age of 18. On maturity, the deposit would yield Rs. 45,000 to Rs. 50,000.

The Minister pointed out that the exact amount to be given to the beneficiaries after maturity was still being worked out. UTI and LIC had also agreed to provide scholarship to the beneficiaries from class I to X.

A final decision on selection of financial agencies would be taken after consulting the Chief Secretary, the Minister said.

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