Beneficiaries identified under self-employment schemes implemented by the District Industries Centre and Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing and Development Corporation (Tahdco) were given subsidy component of their loans at a function at the district collectorate on Friday.
The officials explained various features of the NEEDS (New entrepreneur-cum-enterprise development scheme) meant for first-generation entrepreneurs with minimum qualification of a degree or diploma.
Under the Unemployed Youth Employment Generation Programme (UYEGP), 94 beneficiaries who were sanctioned loans totalling Rs. 1.56 crore received subsidy of Rs. 23.70 lakh. Under the Tahdco scheme, there were 167 beneficiaries who were sanctioned bank loans of Rs. 67.98 lakh, including subsidy component of Rs. 22.16 lakh.
Khadi and Village Industries Minister T.P. Poonachi handed over the benefits in the presence of the Chief Whip R. Manoharan, District Collector Jayashree Muralidharan, and Mayor A. Jaya.
The DIC had disbursed subsidy of Rs. 39.48 lakh for loans amounting to Rs. 2.65 crore to 184 persons in 2011-12. In 2012-13, the number of beneficiaries rose to 203 and they were granted Rs. 3.3 crore as bank loans , according to the General Manager of District Industries’ Centre S. Kandasamy.
Under the Tahdco scheme, there were 1,344 beneficiaries received Rs. 2.6 crore as subsidy in 2011-12 and 748 persons received Rs. 1.9 crore in 2012-13, according to the figures furnished by Tahdco district manager R. Ezhumalai indicated. The Collector said after introduction of NEEDS, an individual could avail loan up to Rs. 1 crore. The loan schemes enabled women to lead a life of dignity and respectability, she said.