CM Jagan releases Rs 395 cr to benefit 3.95 lakh beneficiaries
VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has said it is a matter of pride for the state that it has sanctioned 24, 06,000 loans out of a total of 39,21,000 loans given out in the entire country and hence took the top place in disbursals.
The chief minister released Rs.395 crore under the Jagananna Thodu scheme as interest-free loans via banks to benefit 3.95 lakh petty traders and artisans, each getting Rs.10,000. He also released Rs.15. 17 crore towards reimbursement of interest to benefit 13.28 lakh beneficiaries, who have repaid the loans promptly in the last six months.
Releasing the amount by the click of a button at his camp office here on Wednesday, Jagan Reddy said the beneficiaries, besides becoming a part and parcel of the self-employed community, are also helping the society indirectly. “It is a matter of pride for the state that it has sanctioned 24, 06,000 loans out of the total 39,21,000 loans given in the entire country,” the CM said.
The chief minister explained that out of the total 15,31,347 beneficiaries, 8,74,745 traders and artisans were promptly repaying their previous loans and have become an inseparable part of the scheme by recycling their loans in a disciplined manner.
Jagan Reddy said he had seen the hardships of several artisans and petty traders during his Praja Sankalpa Yatra and decided to help them by introducing the Jagananna Thodu scheme. “Eligible persons who have not availed of the scheme for any reason can still apply through village and ward secretariats. They would be included in the scheme at the end of the social audit, every six months.”
The chief minister explained that with today’s disbursal that benefited 28,000 new petty traders and artisans, the state government had so far reimbursed Rs.63.65 crore as interest alone while the total loan amount sanctioned till now reached ` 2,406 crore, benefiting 15,31, 347 persons. Of these, 80 per cent belonged to the SC, ST, BC and minority communities, the CM noted.
The chief minister said vendors selling fruits, vegetables and food stuffs on push carts, those running roadside tiffin centers and others selling products in baskets and vending products on motor cycles and auto rickshaws, besides Bobbili veena makers, artisans involved in brass work, Kondapalli and Etikoppaka toy-makers, puppet, Kalankari and lace-makers are among the beneficiaries.
Deputy chief minister (Panchayat Raj and rural development) Budi Mutyala Naidu, Municipal administration and urban development minister Dr Audimulapu Suresh and senior officials were among those present.
