Haryana enhances income limit of SC, BC for financial assistance

Chandigarh, Nov 21 (UNI) Haryana Department of Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes has enhanced the income ceiling from Rs 44,500 to Rs one lakh per annum under the scheme aimed at giving financial assistance for coaching to candidates belonging to scheduled castes and backward classes for various entrance and competitive examinations.

While stating this here today, Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes Kartar Devi said that under this scheme the state government had also raised the rates of financial assistance admissible for coaching to candidates belonging to scheduled castes and backward classes for various entrance and competitive examinations from Rs 3000 to Rs 8000 and Rs 4000 to Rs 10,000 respectively. The decision to raise these rates was taken in view of increase in prices of various commodities, she added.

Ms Kartar Devi said that apart from this, training in tailoring was being provided to widows or girls belonging to scheduled castes through 87 community centres functioning at block level.

She said that financial assistance for economic upliftment of persons belonging to scheduled castes and backward classes was being provided through Haryana Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation and Haryana Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections Kalyan Nigam.

Haryana Scheduled Caste Finance and Development Corporation has a plan to benefit 17,000 beneficiaries with Rs 87.65 crore during the current financial year. Similarly, Haryana Backward Classes and Economically Weaker Sections Kalyan Nigam has a plan to give financial assistance of Rs 47.50 crore to 7250 beneficiaries during the year 2007-08, she said.

He said that the state government had reduced from six per cent to five per cent per annum the rate of interest being charged by both these corporations from loanees under various schemes and for those who were regular in the repayment of loan.

UNI