Loans to the tune of Rs. 9.36 crore were distributed to 510 beneficiaries during the ‘Kapu Runa Mela’ organised jointly by the Kapu Corporation and the Kakinada Municipal Corporation here on Friday. City MLA Vanamadi Venkateswara Rao, who was the chief guest at the programme, said that the State government was keen on the overall development of the Kapus and loans would be issued to all the eligible through the Kapu Corporation. He said that 4,600 pucca houses were sanctioned to the city under the State government’s housing scheme and two bedroom flats would be allocated to the beneficiaries through the Janmabhoomi Committees. “The first ever Kapu Bhavan was sanctioned to Kakinada city. Of the Rs. 1,000 crore being allocated for the welfare of the Kapus, Rs. 300 crore has been earmarked for East Godavari district,” he said, adding that a sum of Rs. 14.88 crore would be spent on the welfare of the Kapus in the city and plans were chalked out to support 744 beneficiaries.
Mr. Rao called upon the Kapu youth to come forward to set up small scale industries of an establishment cost of Rs. 25 lakh per unit and the women empowerment would be taken care of by the Kakinada Municipal Corporation. Executive Director (in-charge) of the Kapu Corporation M. Jyothi said that of the Rs. 300 crore allocated for the district for the welfare of the Kapus, over 15,000 unemployed would be benefitted. She said that schemes would be implemented with 50 per cent subsidy and the beneficiaries could establish the unit of their choice. Municipal Commissioner S. Aleem Basha among others were present.
