The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Tribal corporation plans to tie up with Kudumbasree

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Saturday, Aug 23, 2008
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Tribal corporation plans to tie up with Kudumbasree

Special Correspondent

Rs.3-lakh loan at 6 per cent interest for self-help groups

Special scheme envisaged for women
Rs.1,200 crore for loans for Scheduled Tribes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation has decided to tie up with the Kudumbasree Mission to support its micro-finance ventures.

Corporation chairperson and managing director S. Bhavani told reporters after a review meeting here on Friday that the corporation would give loans up to Rs.3 lakh for self-help groups at 6 per cent interest for micro-finance ventures. The corporation had allocated Rs.4.71 crore for the State of which Rs.3 crore has been absorbed by the 700-odd beneficiaries. A sum of Rs.50 lakh has been sanctioned for 2008-09 for the State.

A special scheme has been envisaged for women which would be implemented through the Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation.

It has been decided to increase the corpus fund for the benefit of 3.64 lakh tribal population in Kerala. A sum of Rs.50 lakh has been sanctioned for 2008-09. The amount would be enhanced in the coming years. The repayment rate was 100 per cent in the State.

Ms. Bhavani said Rs.1,200 crore has been budgeted by the corporation for loans to the Scheduled Tribes for the next five years.

This is expected to benefit about 15.84 lakh people across the country. While the allocation for the southern States would be around Rs.180 crore, it would benefit 2.40 lakh beneficiaries. Awareness programmes would be conducted in Attapady next month.

Such campaigns were organised in Marayur, Mananthavady and Muthalamada.

The corporation primarily aims at providing financial support to the Scheduled Tribes having income below Double the Poverty Line (DPL) at a lower interest rate ranging from four to eight per cent through State Channelising Agencies (SCAs).

In order to simplify the decision-making process, the corporation is exploring the possibilities of delegating the powers to approve loans up to Rs.5,0000 at the SCA-level. The corporation also has plans to dovetail its schemes with other government departments, she said.

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