The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : ‘Lack of awareness an impediment for Dalit empowerment'

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Tuesday, Apr 13, 2010
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

‘Lack of awareness an impediment for Dalit empowerment'

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: Lack of awareness has become an impediment for Dalits and tribals (SCs and STs) in availing various schemes being implemented for their empowerment, speakers at a meeting said here on Monday.

At a meeting organised here by Social Welfare Department as part of the ‘Dalit empowerment week' a large number of Dalit unemployed youth and representatives of Dalits' associations participated. Commissioner of Industries G. Anantha Ramu, Commissioner of Social Welfare K. Praveen Kumar, retired IAS officers Gopal Rao and B. Danam and others spoke.

The Dalit youth were told how to go about setting up small scale industries, to which the State government was extending financial assistance from Rs. 5 lakh to Rs. 1 crore under credit guarantee for micro and small enterprises scheme. Under the industrial investment promotion policy of 2005, known as Tata-Birla scheme, the entrepreneurs could avail loan up to Rs. 5 crore without any collateral security.

However, the youth attending the meet were disappointed citing their unsuccessful experiences in availing the schemes. Several youth stated that bankers were not sanctioning loans for lack of collateral security. Many applications were submitted for availing different schemes, but to no avail.

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Andhra Pradesh