KSMDFC to get 3 regional offices: Minister

Minister for Urban Development and Minority Affairs Manjalamkuzhi Ali has stated that the State government will open three regional offices for the newly-constituted Kerala State Minorities Development Finance Corporation (KSMDFC).

The Minister made the declaration while addressing the inaugural function of the KSMDFC’s head office in the city on Saturday.

According to the Minorities Affairs Minister , the proposed regional offices would come up in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Malappuram.

“The operation of the KSMDFC is being strengthened in the State with a total capital investment of Rs.100 crore of which Rs.90 crore will be sanctioned by the Central government,” the Minister added.

Industries Minister P.K. Kunhalikutty, who inaugurated the head office of KSMDFC, said the living condition of minorities in Kerala was comparatively better than that of their counterparts in other States.

“However, we cannot forget the fact that there are people who still live in misery. Also, the government has taken into account the concerns of financially backward segments in the forward castes and decided to chalk out some action plans,” the Minsiter maintained.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed was the chief guest of the programme. Minister for Panchayats and Social Justice M.K. Muneer, KSMDFC chairman Cherkkalam Abdulla, Kerala State Minority Commission chairman M. Veerankutty and KSMDFC Managing Director Mohammed Haneefa were present.

According to officials, KSMDFC, with the full-fledged functioning of its head office, would mainly act as a channelizing agency for the Central Minorities Development Finance Corporation.

It was constituted as per the recommendations of the Sachar committee report and would extend low interest financial credit to the minority groups.