New Delhi, August 1: Aiming to enhance career opportunities for tribals, the National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) today joined hands with State Bank of India to provide them concessional loans with flexible repayment options. Besides providing individual financial assistance, the NSTFDC will also allocate funds for income generating activities by several Self Help Group (SHGs).
"Most of the tribals are deprived of even basic education. They are geographically isolated and under-privileged on most of the development indices... With the help of NSTFDC, tribals can take up any vocation suited to their aptitude, skill and habitat," Tribal Affairs Minister V Kishore Chandra Deo said. Addressing a gathering at the signing of the agreement, the Union Minister also exhorted the banks in the country to focus on rural and backward areas which will ensure growth and development there.
Under the various schemes launched by NSTFDC, tribals can avail funds for self-employment from SBI at six per cent rate of interest with flexible repayment options. Applauding the efforts of the Corporation, Deo said, "In its 11 years of existence, NSTFDC has sanctioned financial assistance for schemes costing around Rs 2200 crore benefiting around 5 lakh tribal people in the country." The Corporation also recently launched an educational loan scheme for facilitating professional and technical education and Ph.D among tribal population of the country.
Observing that the schemes launched by NSTFDC have successfully covered five lakh tribal people, Deo said, "This is the section of the people who have been the most deprived, not for years but centuries. It is heartening that our efforts are now benefiting them." The function was attended by Minister of State for Tribal Affairs Mahadeo Singh Khandela and Secretary Tribal Affairs Vibha Puri Das.
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