Avail benefits of welfare schemes, SC/ST corpn urges beneficiaries

The Chamba district manager of Himachal Pradesh Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Development Corporation Saurabh Sharma has urged the eligible beneficiaries of the SC/ST community to avail the benefits of welfare scheme launched by the state government for their welfare.

“The corporation is committed to supporting eligible beneficiaries in pursuing education and establishing self-employment ventures by providing loans at concessional interest rates,” said Sharma. He appealed to people to take maximum advantage of the welfare schemes being run by the corporation.

He said that individuals belonging to the Scheduled Caste category, aged between 18 and 55 years, with an annual income of up to Rs 3 lakh, are eligible to avail loans ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1.40 lakh at an interest rate of 6.5 per cent, and loans up to Rs 50 lakh at an interest rate of 8 per cent for business purposes.

Under the Higher Education Loan Scheme, beneficiaries can access loans up to Rs 40 lakh at 6.5 per cent interest to pursue professional courses such as Nursing, BTech, ITI, MBBS, B Pharmacy, MBA or any higher education programme.

The PM Ajay Scheme provides financial support to Scheduled Caste beneficiaries with an annual income of up to Rs 2.5 lakh. They can avail loans from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh at an 8 per cent interest rate for business purposes, along with a capital subsidy of up to Rs 50,000.

For Scheduled Tribe beneficiaries, women can benefit under the Tribal Women Empowerment Scheme, which offers loans up to Rs 2 lakh at just four per cent interest. Men can apply under the Small Business Scheme, which provides loans ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 50 lakh at interest rates between 6 and 10 per cent.

The schemes are available only to permanent residents of Himachal Pradesh with an annual income not exceeding Rs 3 lakh, and who are not defaulters with any bank or government institution.

Interested applicants have been advised to contact the district office of the SC/ST Development Corporation in Chamba for further details.