Delhi government to set up Rs 100-crore corpus for loans to SCs, STs and OBCs

NEW DELHI: Delhi government will set up a special corpus of Rs 100 crore for extending loans to entrepreneurs from SC, ST, OBC and minority communities at a nominal interest rate.

PWD Minister Raj Kumar Chouhan, who also holds charge of SC/ST Welfare department, said government has decided to set up the corpus to encourage entrepreneurs from SC, ST, OBC and minority communities.

He said government has also decided to offer loans of upto Rs five lakh instead of Rs one lakh to entrepreneurs from these communities.

The government provides loans to youths from SC, ST, OBC and minority communities for self employment as well as to start entrepreneurship.

Chouhan said an amount of Rs 100 crore has been sanctioned for offering scholarships in 2012-13 to students from these communities studying in schools, colleges and other professional institution.

He said in the year 2010-11, Rs 19.55 crore was spent on providing scholarship to students from these communities.

The Minister said government has also decided to increase monthly old-age pension to poor people from SC, ST, OBC and minority community from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500. The old-age pension is being given to poor people attaining age of 60 years and above.