Nearly 37,000 women living in rural areas will benefit from the Puducherry government’s offer to provide special bank loan of ₹10,000 each to every member of 2,803 self-help groups (SHGs).
Under the State Rural Livelihood Mission, the District Rural Development Agency will facilitate loans to SHG members as a measure to alleviate their suffering because of lockdown.
With 2,020 SHGs having 26,218 members, Puducherry will get ₹26.22 crore and Karaikal district, with 784 SHGs with 10,785 members, will get ₹10.78 crore.
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The government will bear 3% of the 7% interest component for the loan availed. The scheme was announced by Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy days after the Centre announced the lockdown from March 25
Mr. Narayanasamy on Friday held a meeting with representatives of various banks to assess disbursement of loans. The Chief Minister’s Office, in a statement, said so far 5,423 members representing 411 SHGs in Puducherry had availed the facility. In Karaikal, 2,914 women belonging to 213 SHGs had availed the loan, the statement said.
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The Chief Minister has directed the banks to complete the loan disbursal to all SHGs in the next 15 days, it said.