Loans given to minorities, physically challenged

Shimla, August 23

The HP Minorities Finance and Development Corporation has distributed loans of Rs 60.35 crore to 3,527 persons of minorities and physically challenged for setting up their own ventures, said Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr (Col) Dhani Ram Shandil while presiding over the 41st meeting of the Board of Directors of the corporation here today.

Shandil said 2,191 persons of minorities had been provided loans of Rs 32.65 crore, besides Rs 27.70 crore to the 1,336 specially abled for self-employment whereas Rs 29 lakh had been provided as education loan to 18 and Rs 1,200.18 lakh had been provided to 387 specially abled persons for higher studies.

He urged board members, PRIs and officers of various departments to ensure timely delivery of benefits of various schemes to beneficiaries in every nook and corner and not a single eligible should remain deprived. He also asked the banks to simplify the loan process. He also asked the PRIs for timely completion of required formalities while forwarding proposals of the cases of social security pensions.

Managing Director HP Minorities Finance and Development Corporation Reema Kashyap said the corporation had been organising awareness camps from time to time so as to ensure the benefit of welfare schemes to the eligible and the calendar for current fiscal was being prepared. — TNS