To get the accurate information related to availing financial assistance in the form of loan for Overseas Education under Minorities Category from Jammu & Kashmir Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes & Backward Classes Development Corporation Limited, the members of Sikh Community met Corporation Vice Chairperson, Balbir Ram Rattan, at Head Office, Jammu. A male with 100 per cent physical disability also accompanied them and sought details regarding loan under Handicapped category.
Balbir Ram Rattan, while discussing various schemes meant for the benefit of the weaker sections, including Minorities and Safai Karamcharis, said that the objective for establishment of the Corporation is the economic empowerment of the poor and needy, which belong to the reserved categories. He said that although banks and other financial institutions also provide loans for various purposes but the rate of interest on loaned amount is comparatively very less in cases sanctioned by SC, ST, BC Development Corporation Limited and it is due to this difference that more and more people approach the Corporation for financial assistance to set up own earning units.
Balbir told them that the Corporation, in collaboration with Apex Level Corporations of the Government of India, provides Educational Loan to the students of the target group categories for pursuing professional/ technical courses in India and Abroad and the minorities in Jammu and Kashmir are those which have been categorized as National Notified Minorities namely Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains.
Jammu District Manager, Joginder Pal Atri, replied their queries in connection with the mode of applying, processing and mortgage/ guarantee for availing loan from the Corporation. He further said that a maximum of rupees twenty lakh can be availed in the form of loan for overseas studies.
