Women SHGs in K'taka to get loans at 4 pc interest rate

Mysore, Oct 30 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today announced that loans at four per cent interest rate would be provided to women self help groups in the State.

Inaugurating the golden jubilee celebrations of Mysore and Chamarajanagara district cooperative central bank here, he said the facility, hitherto enjoyed by Sthri Shakthi groups, would be extended to women SHGs to enable them to become more economically stronger. Loans from Rs 50,000 to Rs one lakh would be provided to both the groups, he added.

Stating that the Government would consider the demand to remove the loan limitation of Rs three lakhs, he said the State Government had provided loans to farmers to the tune of Rs 15,000 crore through various cooperative banks at the rate of four per cent.

Mr Kumaraswamy announced that a new agricultural policy would be framed soon, aimed at helping small and marginal farmers.

He said the cooperative sector had an important role to play in the agricultural sector and the cooperative movement was nearing its centenary in next January or February. It should continue to make efforts for the uplift of the rural masses, particularly farmers suffering from various problems including crop loss. The cooperative movement should also create awareness among the farmers to take up climatic condition crops to sustain in the globalised era in all sectors.

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