Rs 87 cr schemes to benefit SCs in Haryana

Chandigarh, Oct 29 (UNI) The Haryana Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation has made a grant of Rs 87.65 crore to benefit 17000 people of the state under various income generating schemes during the current financial year.

A Corporation spokesman said the financial assistance was being provided through the two Nigams of the state namely the Haryana Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (HSCFDC) and the Haryana Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections Kalyan Nigam (HBCEWSKN) especially constituted for economic upliftment of the Scheduled Castes and people belonging to backward classes.

He said the HBCEWSKN provided financial assistance to persons belonging to backward classes and minorities and a sum of Rs 47.50 crore had been proposed to be given to 7250 beneficiaries of these communities during the year 2007-08.

Similarly, these Corporations give financial assistance under various welfare schemes to the members of these communities for their social, educational and economic upliftment.

The spokesman said that under the new incentives of the state government, the rate of interest charged by these two Corporations from the loanees under various schemes had been reduced from six per cent to five per cent per annum for those who regularly repayed their loan.

He said that as per the census 2001, the population of the scheduled castes in the state stands at 40.91 lakh which is 19.35 per cant of the total population of the state which is 211.45 lakhs.

UNI