Dr. Shandil chairs BoD meeting of Minorities Finance and Development Corporation
Health, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil chaired a meeting of the Board of Directors (BoD) of Himachal Pradesh Minorities Finance and Development Corporation here today where approval was given for fresh appointments and other important agendas.
The Minister said the Corporation was established to ensure the social and economic upliftment of minorities and Divyangs and keeping in mind the present-day requirements of these sections of the society, the administrative and structural components of the Corporation would be likewise restructured.
The Board revealed that loans amounting to Rs. 1296.45 lakh were given to minorities during the financial year 2023-24, whereas 540.83 lakh of loans were disbursed among Divyang beneficiaries.
The HP Minorities Finance and Development Corporation provide loans to minorities and Divyangs to assist them in own business or for pursuing studies in professional courses. The persons in the age group of 18 to 55 were being provided loans for shops, small business, technical trades, artisans and traditional occupations, transport, service agriculture and allied sectors. Loan upto 30 lakh was being provided to the minorities at the interest rate of 6 percent, whereas education loans at a minimum 4 percent interest.
Similarly, Divyangs were being offered loan upto 50,000 at 5 percent interest rate, 50,000 to 5 lakh at 6 percent interest rate, 5 lakh to 15 lakh at 7 percent interest rate, 15 lakh to 30 lakh at 8 percent interest rates, 30 lakh to 50 lakh at 9 percent interest rate.
The corporation has disbursed Rs. 159.68 crore loans to 3,486 minority beneficiaries and 1,900 Divyangs since its establishment.
Secretary of the Social Justice and Empowerment department Ashish Singhmar, Director, ESOMSA Kiran Bhadana, Managing Director, Minorities Finance and Development Corporation Pradeep Kumar and other members of the BoD were present at the meeting.