Mohammed Safi (25) from Boliyar near Mangalore is yet to decide what to do with the Rs. 15,000 he received from the Karnataka Minority Development Corporation on Monday. Being the Eldest of the three sons of Mohammed, a labourer, Safi has so far been earning as a taxi driver.
“I was not sure as to when I will get this amount. I had applied about three months ago through my friend who is in the corporation. I hope to have my own vehicle and take assistance from the corporation,” said Safi, who has studied till class 5.
Similar is the state of A.M. Abubakar (22), a resident of Kinya near Mangalore. He has planned to open a petty shop. “I can learn tailoring and start a tailoring shop. I can sell fish on a push cart,” said Mr. Abubakar, who was yet to take a decision. At present, Abubakar is earning as a labourer in the Central Market and is taking care of his mother who stays with him.
These two were among the 419 persons from three Mangalore assembly constituencies and Moodbidre assembly constituency who received a cheque for Rs. 15,000 each, under the Shramashakti Yojane meant for skill enhancement and self-employment. They were among the 1,194 beneficiaries who received cheques from the corporation totalling to Rs. 1.45 crore under various welfare schemes this year, at a function held here.
Dakshina Kannada District in-charge Minister J. Krishna Palemar, MLA U.T. Khader, Chairman of Karnataka Minority Development Corporation N.B. Abubakar, and Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat president K.T. Shailaja Bhat participated in the programme.
According to the corporation, many of the beneficiaries have been from the Shramashakti and the Micro Finance Scheme, which is given to self-help groups of minorities.
In case of the Shramashakti Scheme, the number of beneficiaries is more than the target of 78 fixed by the Corporation for each assembly constituency. There were 116 beneficiaries from Mangalore South assembly constituency, 144 from Mangalore North constituency, and 81 from the Mangalore constituency. There were 78 beneficiaries from the Moodbidre assembly constituency.
As against the target of 171 fixed for the Micro Finance Scheme, there were 147 beneficiaries from Mangalore South, 119 from Mangalore North, 187 from Mangalore, and 178 from Moodbidre assembly constituencies. No beneficiaries have been identified for the Ganga Kalyana Scheme meant to help beneficiaries from minority community in laying pump sets or digging well in their land.
A target of 19 beneficiaries and quantum of Rs.19 lakh was fixed for each of the four assembly constituencies this year. The Corporation has not been able to meet the target with regard to the two schemes namely Swawalambana and Arivu Schemes.
Of the target of 65 persons under the Swawalambana Scheme (meant to help in business, handloom, and other professions of a person whose annual income is less than Rs. 22,000), there were eight beneficiaries from Mangalore South, 46 from Mangalore North, nine from Mangalore, and seven from Moodbidre assembly constituencies.
Of the target of 117 that was set for the Arivu Scheme (meant to finance professional course study), there have been 24 from Mangalore South, 14 from Mangalore North, 19 from Mangalore, and 17 from Moodbidre assembly constituencies.
