Many Schemes for Minority but Few Applications

Many Schemes for Minority Students but Few Applications – MLC Ivan

Mangaluru: MLC Ivan D’Souza held a press meet at his office, MCC Premises here, on June 3.

Addressing the mediapersons, MLC Ivan said that there are a number of educational schemes for minority students but they are not aware of it. “To bring awareness, we have organized workshops in various places. We have already organized a workshop at Mangala Jyothi Bajjodi where more than 350 students, as well as their parents, participated.”

“We have organized workshops in DK, Udupi, Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru, Mysuru, Chamarajnagar, Kalaburgi, Bidar and Belagavi districts. On June 6, a workshop will be held at St Dominic Church hall at 9:00 am and at Beltangady at 3:00 pm. There will also be a workshop on June 19 at Kirem Church Kinnigoli at 8:30 am. Students and parents can get the necessary information at the workshop.”

There are various schemes for the welfare and development of the minorities like the Swavalambana Margin Money loan with subsidy scheme, Arivu (educational) loan scheme, Shrama Shakti Scheme, Micro loan and Micro subsidy loan, Ganga Kalyana Scheme and Interest subsidy loan for Housing.

Swavalambana – Under this scheme, persons belonging to religious minority communities in association with and through banks/financial institutions, are financially assisted in starting and improving business like small scale cottage industries, service sector, agriculture based activities, etc.

Arivu Scheme – Under this scheme, religious minority students who desire to pursue professional courses like Medical, Engineering, Dental, Master Degree Courses, Diploma Courses, Nursing, B.Ed, BBM, BCA, D.Ed, D-pharma, Pharma-D and ITI are provided financial assistance ranging from Rs 5,000/- to Rs 50,000/- per year till completion of the course. Pre-matric students scholarship, post-matric students scholarship, Merit-cum-means scholarship, Vidyasiri scheme, National overseas Scholarship, Skill development scheme, free coaching for competitive examinations and coaching for CET examinations are also provided.

Ganga Kalyan – Irrigation facility is provided to agricultural land through lift irrigation scheme utilizing the perennial source of water (rivers) and lifting water through pipelines. Wherever perennial water sources are not available, borewells are drilled on the water points identified by expert geologists.

Shramashakti – Under this scheme, minority artisans will be financially assisted to improve their artistic and technical skill to carry on with their trade or for commencing or developing small businesses and a loan up to Rs 50,000/- (maximum) will be provided at a lower rate of interest to improve their business. Out of this amount, 50% of the loan will be considered as back-end subsidy to the beneficiary.

Land Purchase – Under this scheme, the Corporation will purchase agricultural land and this will be given to the poor landless minority farmers in rural areas. Two acres of dry land or 1 acre of wetland will be distributed to each beneficiary.

Micro Loan with Subsidy – This scheme is implemented through self-help groups. The group so formed should have 10 to 20 members. The group should aim to involve its members in any lucrative business activity. The members, after forming a self-help group, should select two of its members as group leaders 1 and 2. They should open a bank account in the name of the self-help group with the authorized signatory as group leaders 1 & 2. The group should consist of only religious minority persons. Priority in this scheme will be given to women self-help groups.

Christian Development Parishath – During 2011-12, the Karnataka Christian Development Parishath was established on 5 November 2011 for the overall development of the Christian community. The budget allocation will be made to Directorate of Minorities by the Government. Out of this, 40% is provided to KMDC for implementing the on-going schemes of the Corporation viz, Arivu Education loan, Shramashakti, Micro loan with subsidy and Site Purchase / Home Loan Interest subsidy schemes.

Home Loan Interest subsidy scheme – Under this scheme, for minority beneficiaries who have taken loan for the purpose of construction of house/purchase of land from banks/financial institutions, an interest subsidy up to Rs 1 lakh will be reimbursed.

Ivan urged the minority students to attend the workshop, which will give them detailed information about the facilities available from the government to pursue their education. There are a number of schemes but due to lack of awareness, students from the minority community are not applying for scholarships, he added.

When asked about the actions initiated to uplift the pathetic condition of the Mangaluru Rural police station, Ivan replied that the construction work for the police station is going on and that he would also contribute Rs 5 lakh and a free solar connection for the police station.