Tripura wants simple lending system for tribal in NE

Agartala, Dec 18 (UNI) Tribal Welfare Minister of Tripura Jitendra Choudhury has asked the Centre to strengthen the lucid lending system for tribals and promote banking activities to increase the pace of development in the Northeast.

Expressing concern over the huge gap in the living conditions of the people in the tribal areas, he today said that in urban areas, people are being chased by financial institutions extending loans for various purposes irrespective of the need of a person. Whereas in tribal areas, situation is in total contrast, where people were not getting assistance from financial institutions even for their survival.

Mr Choudhury urged National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation(NSTFDC) to strengthen its network for providing loans to the Scheduled Tribe people for development activities while addressing the conference of States' Tribal Development Departments and channellising agencies of NSTFDC yesterday in Delhi.

Underlining the importance of skill development and capacity building, he said financial institutions should not only provide loan through single window but also provide training to develop new skills so that tribal and can utilise the money and improve their traditional activities to become a small entrepreneur in his own world.

He also urged the State-run financial institutes to consider self-help groups of tribal community as there is a tendency of tribal to involve in activities as part of a clan or whole community besides, providing marketing support for our tribal farmers.

The meeting was convened by the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) at the initiative of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, to address issues related to its financial assistance programme for the benefit of tribal groups which include expansion the coverage of the programme and making delivery system more effective.

UNI