Khaleequr Rahman: Kiran Kumar Reddy approves new schemes on Sonia Ga...

Khaleequr Rahman: Kiran Kumar Reddy approves new schemes on Sonia Ga...: Smt.Sonia Gandhi On the occasion of the birthday of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, our beloved chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy approved i...

Kiran Kumar Reddy approves new schemes on Sonia Gandhi's birthday

Smt.Sonia Gandhi

On the occasion of the birthday of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, our beloved chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy approved important files relating to four schemes on Friday. The schemes, which are intended to benefit women, farmers and SCs/STs will additionally burden the exchequer to the tune of Rs 2,397 crore.

Of the four files, the first one relates to interest free loans to 1.1 crore women. The government will bear the interest burden to the tune of Rs 1,400 crore. The second file relates to the sanction of Rs 50 crore grant to provide an additional amount of Rs 200 per tonne to sugarcane under nine cooperative sugar factories . The third relates to the enhancement of mandays from the present 100 days to 200 days in the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). It also includes enhancement of drought pension to the tune of 10 per cent for December and 20 percent for January. The state government will bear the additional cost of Rs 200 crore for the purpose. The fourth file relates to providing basic infrastructure in 3,000 SC/ST colonies at an estimated cost of Rs 747 crore.

Shri N.Kiran Kumar Reddy

The members of self help groups (SHGs) will get interest-free loans up to Rs 5 lakh from January 1, 2012. However, women would be eligible for interest waiver only if they ensure prompt repayment. As banks are now charging 14 per cent interest on loans to SHGs, the interest-free loans would cause a financial burden of Rs 1,400 crore on the state government.

The state has planned a comprehensive five-year package for the sugarcane sector, which will be announced soon. The government is in the process of getting inputs from experts in the industry.

Major infrastructure drive to improve living conditions in SC/ST colonies has been approved by the chief minister on Friday. The construction of concrete drains in the low lying SC/ST colonies will improve the overall hygienic conditions of the area. The rural connectivity is now one of the permissible categories of works under the NREGS.

The district collectors can now accord administrative sanctions for creation of concrete internal roads, including pucca drains in selected SC/ST localities, not exceeding 5 each in erstwhile block subject to wage and material ratio under the NREGS. Grama panchayats having predominantly SC/ST populations will be considered in selection of the 5 SC/ST locations. Grama sabhas will pass the resolutions to take up the pucca internal roads and drains in selected SC/ST locations.

                                                                                                                     Khaleequr rahman