K'taka Govt provides Rs 5,000 loan for Dalits

Mysore, Oct 14 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today launched a new scheme to provide poor Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe people across the State with Rs 5,000 loan from the Ambedkar Development Corporation.

Distributing Rs three crore for about 6,000 families in the district under various schemes, he said during his recent visit to many villages in the district, he had announced to provide Rs 5,000 to 1,500 Dalit families, where in the Government would bear half the burden and the other half would be considered as loan, to be returned in installments in four years. This scheme had now been replicated all over the State and required funds would be earmarked.

The Chief Minister appealed to the beneficaries not to misuse the loans provided by the Government, but to repay the loan in the stipulated time.

Mr Kumaraswamy reiterated that all the 29,000 villages in the State would be provided with all basic faclities like sanitation, roads and housing facilities in the next six to seven years.

''I feel ashamed when people approach me seeking basic amenities and livelihood for one square meal. The benefits of reservation has touched only a thin layer of population...it's necessary to provide them to the deprived classes of society at least now,'' he said.

Referring to a crest gate collapse in Taraka Dam, Mr Kumaraswamy said he was unable to visit the spot as he was preoccupied with programmes at Bagakkote. However, he had sent PWD Minister H D Revanna to supervise it on behalf of the Government.

He said the Government had released Rs 50 lakh to the farmers affected by the gate collapse. Nearly 390 farmers had suffered crop loss in 271 acres of land, 177 pumpsets damaged and three cattles lost life and the total estimated loss was put at Rs 98.88 lakh.

The Chief Minister handed over cheques to all the farmers who suffered from the flood waters of Taraka on the occasion.

Mr Kumaraswamy said the Government proposed to provide assistance to the 250 life imprisonment prisoners who had been released now.

Four of them -- Shiva Murthy, Parasshiva Murthy, Basavaraj and Jayaram of the district who were released on August 15 -- have been paid Rs 35,000 by the Social Welfare department to take up self employment and lead a new life.

CM also sanctioned Rs 50 lakh for constructing Babu Jagajivan Ram community hall in the city.

UNI BSP GD SKB DKA RS1835