Stand Up India Scheme takes a back seat

Visakhapatnam: Collector Praveen Kumar emphasised the need to create awareness about Stand Up India Scheme among SC, ST and women aspirants as the scheme took a back seat due to lack of awareness.

At a state-level meeting with the government officials, bankers and SC, ST and woman organisations here on Friday on Stand Up India Scheme, the Collector disclosed that the Centre has introduced the scheme last year to provide loan facility to SC, ST and woman aspirants to set up industries.

He said basing on the nature of industry and qualifications of the beneficiary, a loan will be granted from Rs 10 lakh up to Rs 1 crore and as per the guidelines of the Central government, each bank branch of scheduled commercial banks has to provide loans one each for the SC, ST and woman aspirants.

“Lack of initiative among bankers to take the scheme ahead to the beneficiaries as well as lack of awareness among the beneficiaries has totally diluted the very objective of the important welfare scheme”, he lamented.

Praveen Kumar appealed to all the branches of commercial banks to provide loans properly by fixing individual targets for which the district administration is always in the forefront to extend help.

Lead Bank District Manager Saratbabu said that Visakhapatnam district is in the first place in implementation of Stand Up India Scheme in the state, said and of the total 140 applications received, 130 have been cleared by granting loans worth Rs 88 lakh.

SIDBI general manager Sampath Kumar said that steps are being taken for effective implementation of the Stand Up India Scheme by organising field level workshops to sensitise both bankers and beneficiaries.

He appealed to the bankers to cooperate in the implementation of the scheme at the field level.