About 403 beneficiaries were extended credit of Rs.38.85 lakh for taking up self-employment under the Tamil Nadu Afforestation Programme (TAP) here on Saturday. Distributing the assistance at a function held in Srirangam, T.P. Poonatchi, Minister for Khadi and Village Industries, said over the past three years about 357 beneficiaries had been extended credit of Rs. 31.09 lakh under TAP to enable people living in the vicinity of forests to take up self-employment such as raising milch animals, setting up rabbit farms, and other revenue-generating ventures.
This apart, Rs. 38.43 lakh had been provided as revolving fund to 393 beneficiaries. Ninety-nine village-based women’s self-help groups had been extended credit of Rs. 49.50 lakh, he said. Five self-help groups were given Rs. 2.50 lakh credit while music instruments were presented to an environment cultural troupe.
District Collector Jayashree Muralidharan abd R. Manohar, Chief Whipwere present.
