Centre releases Rs 2.76 crore to HP

Shimla, July 23 (UNI) The Centre has sanctioned a sum of Rs 2.76 crore to 11 DRDAs of Himachal Pradesh under the Swarnjayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY), an official spokesman said.

The funds released by Union Rural Development Ministry to the state were part of balance payments of the first installment for this financial year, he said in a release here.

The spokesman said Kangra district received the highest balance of Rs 62.42 lakh after receiving Rs 31.21 lakh as part of first installment out of a total of Rs 187.258 lakh allocation by the Centre.

Kinnuar, on the other hand, recorded the lowest balance of Rs 2.83 lakh after receiving Rs 1.41 lakh as part of the first installment out of a total of Rs 8.48 lakh allocation by the Centre, he said.

He said Lahaul Spiti was yet to receive a sum of Rs 3.58 lakh out of a total of Rs 7.15 lakh earmarked for it.

The amount would be utilized as per the guidelines of the SGSY with the Centre and the state funding the scheme in the 75:25 ratio, the spokesman said.

He said the state government should release its share within one month of the date of release of the Central assistance.

Financial assistance is provided to the poor families living below poverty line for taking up self-employment avocations besides promoting group approach by organising the rural poor into self-help Groups (SHGs).

UNI