Govt will offer farm loans upto Rs 2 lakhs at zero pc interest: Mahadeva Prasad

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, July 27, 2013: South Canara District Central Co-operative Bank Ltd in association with All Co-operative Organizations of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts organized an event to hand over the Uttarakhand Flood Relief Fund at TV Raman Pai Convention Hall on July 27, Saturday. A scholarship distribution programme for the children of Navodaya Self Help Group members, was also held on the occasion

Minister for Co-operation H.S. Mahadeva Prasad who received the flood relief fund from various associations said  that various co-operative banks and trusts have collected Rs 75 lakhs to help the flood victims.The fund raising drive will continue till August 15, he said.

 

The Minister further stated that the co-operative banks are functioning sans any political intervention and added their main objective was to help farmers and poor women.

He said if the state government was earlier extending  loans to farmers up to Rs 1 lakh at zero percent interest and one percent interest up to Rs 2-3 lakhs,  the present government will extend loans upto Rs 2 lakhs at zero percent interest.

Referring to Self Help Groups, the minister assured to hold discussions  with the authorities concerned to reduce  the interest on loans extended to SHGs.

B Ramanatha Rai, Forest Minister and District in-charge Minister handed over scholarships to the children of SHG members on the occasion. He appreciated the efforts put in by SCDCC Bank Chairman Rajendra Kumar in taking the bank to greater heights.

Presiding over the event, M N Rajendra Kumar, Chairman  of SCDCC Bank said that  a sum of Rs 77 lakhs has been collected for flood relief fund by various co-operative banks and associations.

He urged the members of SHG’s to provide  education to their children at least upto 10th std and assured financial help from Navodaya.

J R Lobo, Moideen Bawa, MLAs,Vinay Kumar Soorinje and others were present on the dais.

Later speaking at the press meet held at SCDCC Bank hall, Minister Mahadev Prasad said that a total of Rs 1 crore has been contributed by co-operative banks towards the relief fund. The state government has moved ahead to add the names of SHG members in the Yashaswini Health Insurance Scheme  and added that the government will pay the premium of very poor families.