Mumbai: The State Cabinet in its first meeting of the new year on Tuesday decided to give government guarantee for loans worth ₹325 crore to the corporations set up for the betterment of backward communities and people with disability.
The government will now stand guarantee for loans worth ₹50 crore to Sant Rohidas Leather Industries and Charmakar Development Corporation Limited, ₹70 crore to Maharashtra State Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation, ₹70 crore to Lokshahir Anna Bhau Sathe Development Corporation Limited, and ₹135 crore to Mahatma Phule Backward Class Development Corporation Limited.
“These corporations will be able to avail of loans from various national corporations to implement schemes and lend money to entrepreneurs,” an official from the social justice department said. The national corporations are the National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation, National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation, and the National Handicapped Finance and Development corporation.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had recently held a meeting with the department where directions were issued to prepare a proposal under which government guarantee will be extended.
Sant Rohidas corporation was formed to implement schemes for the uplift of Charmakars (dhor, chambhar, holar, mochi etc.) who are below poverty line. Mahatma Phule corporation provides financial assistance for the economic development of the backward and other backward classes while Lokshahir Anna Bhau Sathe corporation was set up to raise the standard of living of the Matang community. The Maharashtra State Handicapped corporation aims to undertake economic development activities, including self employment, for the benefit of people with disability.
“Charmakars and Matangs are key constituents of the Scheduled Caste (SC) population in Maharashtra. While Mahars dominate the discourse around the SCs, these two silent sub-castes have been important for the BJP and the Shiv Sena. These corporations can be used extensively to reach out to this population,” a senior BJP leader from the Cabinet said.
