Shimla: Health & Family Welfare Minister, Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil chaired the 54th Board of Directors meeting of the Himachal Pradesh Minority Finance and Development Corporation (HPMFDC) here today. During the meeting, the Board of Directors reviewed various initiatives, schemes and programmes being implemented by the state government for the welfare of minority communities in Himachal Pradesh.
The Health Minister said that the Corporation provides term loans up to Rs. 30 lakh along with various facilities to minority community members and divyangjans for the establishment or expansion of enterprises in sectors such as tourism, agriculture, traditional occupations, technical fields and small businesses. Similarly, education loans up to Rs. 20 lakh is also provided and self-help groups are extended loan facilities for the purchase of equipment and other requirements.
Dr. Shandil said that the HPMFDC conducts awareness campaigns across the State to ensure that all beneficiary-oriented schemes, aimed at the upliftment of minority communities, reach potential beneficiaries. During the current fiscal, awareness camps have been organised from time to time at various locations in Kangra, Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur, Chamba and Shimla districts, and the response to these camps has been encouraging. Awareness camps are also proposed in the future in Kangra, Kullu, Sirmaur, Shimla, Una and Mandi districts.
He said that the government was committed to the welfare of minority communities and minority organizations. Over the past three years, loans amounting to about Rs. 70 crore have been disbursed to over 1,000 minority beneficiaries. The loan recovery rate has also improved significantly, increasing from around 80 percent to nearly 100 percent since the formation of the present government.
During the meeting, various agenda items were discussed and approved, including the appointment of the Additional Chief Secretary (Social Justice and Empowerment) as Director of the Corporation.
Managing Director of the Corporation Manoj Kumar, Director ESOMSA Sumit Khimta, Special Secretary, Finance, Vijay Vardhan, members of the Board of Directors and senior officers were present on the occasion.
