The Hindu - Andhra Pradesh 17.08.2009

SC Corporation outlay for 2009-10 is Rs. 18.52 cr.

Staff Reporter

Kakinada: The SC Corporation has pegged its plan outlay for 2009-10 at Rs 18.52 crores and the number of beneficiaries at 11,159. Included in the plan figure is a State Government subsidy of Rs 3.23 crores, subsidy from other departments amounting to Rs 7.73 crores and Rs 6.78 crores of bank loans. The beneficiaries’ contribution is put at Rs 16.22 lakhs. The current year (2009-10)’s outlay is Rs 3.26 crores less than that of the previous year (2008-09), which was Rs 21.78 crores. However, 2008-09 target was exceeded by Rs 9.81 crores, which was 145 percent (Rs 31.59 crores) of the target (Rs 21.78 crores).

Some of the highlights of the 2009-10 plan are: Rs 1.18 crores for self-employment units to 220 beneficiaries with a maximum subsidy of Rs 30,000 per unit, bank loan of Rs 2.70 crores to 4,050 self-help groups member belonging to Scheduled Castes, power tillers with a subsidy of Rs 30,000 each by the SC Corporation and Agriculture Department, Rs 1.28 crores for providing irrigation facilities in 390 acres of land and giving training to 1,820 beneficiaries and Rs 8.12 crores for land development schemes in association with District Water Management Agency, Agriculture, Horticulture and Irrigation Department and AP-Transco.

While releasing the SC Corporation Action Plan, Social Welfare Minister Pilli Subhaschandra Bose said 1,13,116 SC beneficiaries got their loans amounting to Rs 49.14 crores waived. The Corporation was asked to act not merely as a loan giver but to ensure that the financial assistance extended by it was properly utilized. It was supposed to provide a subsidy of 50 per cent or Rs 30,000 whichever is higher to the beneficiaries whose activities needed to be monitored regularly. The Agriculture Department was advised to encourage SC youth to take up agricultural activities.