The Indian Express: Pune: Sunday, January 21, 2018.
Special
schemes launched by the Maharashtra Khadi and Village Industries Board (MKVIB),
aimed at Scheduled Caste entrepreneurs, have not reached many of the intended
beneficiaries as the Board has failed to disburse most of the funds it has
received since 2012-13, reveal Right to Information documents accessed by The
Indian Express.
In the last
financial year, 2016-17, the Board fell short of its disbursal target by nearly
85 per cent, with only Rs 75.55 lakh of the total Rs 500 lakh being disbursed.
The Board
has, however, placed the blame squarely on the banks, accusing them of not
providing supporting loans to the entrepreneurs.
The Board is
the implementing agency for a scheme that focuses on the most vulnerable
sections of society, including landless labourers and village artisans. The
Board also implements another scheme for SC entrepreneurs, for which it
receives funds from the Social Justice and Special Assistance Department.
Under both
schemes, the Board provides Rs 10,000, or 50 per cent of the project cost,
whichever amount is lower. Banks are supposed to loan the remaining 50 per cent
of the amount to the entrepreneurs.
Documents
obtained under RTI show that in 2012-13, the MKVIB managed to disburse Rs
214.98 lakh under the first scheme, as against the target of Rs 550 lakh.
Maharashtra
khadi industries board, village industries board, mkvib, govt banks, khadi
bhavan, indian express
During a
recent audit, the Accountant General of Maharashtra had raised the issue of
non-disbursal of funds by the MKVIB. The Board blamed the banks that are
supposed to provide loans to the entrepreneurs, show RTI documents.
“In its
reply, the Board stated that under the scheme, the government provides a
subsidy of Rs 10,000 to beneficiaries below the poverty line (BPL), and the
rest is funded by the banks as loans. As banks are not interested in providing
loans to the beneficiaries, there are shortfalls in achievement of targets,”
read the RTI reply.
Milind
Kamble, chairman of the Dalit India Chamber of Commerce (DICCI), said banks
often refuse to provide loans as they “view the beneficiaries with suspicion”.
“Whether it’s the schemes of the MKVIDC, or other financial institutions of the
government, the banks refuse to provide loans,” he said.
“We believe
the only way out of the deadlock is by ensuring financial literacy,” said
Kamble, adding that members of DICCI have taken up a dialogue with the banks to
find a solution to the issue.
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