Date:07/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/07/stories/2009010753630800.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

District-level task force to approve PMEGP projects

HYDERABAD: A seven-member task force is being set up in each district in the State to scrutinise applications being received under the newly-introduced Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP).

The district Collector/Deputy Commissioner will be the chairman and the District Industries Centre’s (DIC) General Manager or the State Director of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) will be the member-convener.

Orders constituting the task force are expected to be issued after Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy returns from New Delhi. K. Mohan Rao, KVIC State Director, told this correspondent that the Commission had received a record number of 450 projects for approval from various districts.

The projects, including manufacturing, service-oriented business like hotels/dhabas, electrical workshops and tool kits, would be referred to the task force. The project cost is limited to Rs.25 lakh each.

Review meetings

He said the entrepreneurs would be called to attend the review meetings by the Task Force, so as to facilitate expeditious approval of the projects. This year, Rs.53.19 crore had been allocated to the State as margin money/subsidy for 2008-09 (ending march this year).

Already a credit requirement of Rs.180.77 crore for the PMEGP projects had been approved by the State-level bankers committee.