Date:18/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/18/stories/2006081802810200.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Meet to help Dalits set up industries

Special Correspondent

At least five Dalits to be selected from each district

APSFC earmarks 10 per cent of its budget
Plan to develop horticulture in 70,000 acres

Rs. 40 crores aid for 2,250 self help groups

HYDERABAD: As part of its policy to give a boost to facilitate Dalits to establish industries, the Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes Cooperative Finance Corporation Limited is organising a workshop here on August 19 and 20.

R.D.Wilson, Chairman, told a press conference here on Wednesday that the corporation would select at least five Dalits from each district for the purpose during the workshop.

He envisaged no problems in securing assistance to the prospective entrepreneurs as the Andhra Pradesh State Finance Corporation had earmarked 10 per cent of its budget to Dalits. Besides, SIDBI and State-level Bankers Committee would extend subsidy. The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation representatives would take part in the workshop to help in the areas of infrastructure.

Explaining new initiatives, he stated that for the first time it planned to develop horticulture plantations in 70,000 acres, extend Rs. 40-crore aid to 2,250 self-help groups -- 2,000 of them for Dalits and 250 exclusively for cobblers.

The corporation had taken steps, in contrast to the practice during the TDP regime, to focus on loan recoveries.

As against recoveries of Rs.1-1.5 crores every year earlier, it had got back Rs.12 crores last year. This year's target was Rs.18 crores.