The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Modify education loan scheme: Thirunavukkarasar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 31, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Modify education loan scheme: Thirunavukkarasar

Special Correspondent

Says present ceiling of Rs. 4 lakh is insufficient

S. Thirunavukkarasar

CHENNAI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday demanded that the scope of the education loan scheme be extended to cover students of all courses, irrespective of the cost of study in any discipline.

S. Thirunavukkarasar, BJP national secretary and Member of Parliament, told reporters that the present ceiling under the scheme was Rs. 4 lakh. This was insufficient for students of medicine or those pursuing courses such as marine engineering and airline pilot. The upper limit should be pegged to the cost of the course.

Noting that the present economic growth did not benefit many sections of society, the BJP leader said employment opportunities were now generally confined to the information technology sector. As there was not much scope for jobs in the rest of the private sector and government, the Centre and State governments should devise measures for self-employment. An exclusive organisation could be established. At the time of providing soft loans to eligible youth, banks could give three-fourth of the amount with the proposed organisation contributing the rest.

Though thousands of students graduated from private engineering colleges in the State, most of them were not found employable as they were weak in English. To enhance their employability, the State Government should set up region-wise coaching and training centres, which could impart soft skills.

Ramar Setu

On the Ramar Setu controversy, Mr. Thirunavukkarasar, who held the portfolio of shipping in the National Democratic Alliance regime, said the present alignment was not cleared by that government. The Centre should arrange a meeting between BJP leaders and technical experts.

He said the United Progressive Alliance Government's functioning was characterised by inflation, serial bomb blasts, import of food grains and increase in prices of essential commodities. He said there would be snap elections to the Lok Sabha in a year.

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