In a bid to give respite to tribal students for pursuing higher education, the government today gave approval to the proposal that it will guarantee the security of the loans given to tribal students for educational purposes. The decision was taken in a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rabhubar Das.
Currently banks offer upto `7.5 lakh educational loan without security. Beyond this limit, security is demanded. The government will guarantee the additional amount over 7.5 lakh. It will form a fund namely Chief Minister’s Higher Education Fellowship Scheme of Rs. 50 crore, which will compensate in case of loan default. It will be beneficial for SC and OBC students along with ST students. In order to provide loan to the tribal students without trouble, a committee has been constituted in the chairmanship of Rural Development Minister Nilkanth Singh Munda in the Tribal Advisory Meeting (TAC). It should be noted that the banks were reluctant to give any loan to the students without any land mortgage.
The concerned department has been asked to prepare a report about institutions, curriculum and amount to be given by the banks. The CM also directed the banks to make a web portal for education loan. It will tell why a particular loan has not been sanctioned or why it has been delayed. He directed to open a Tribal university in Khunti-Gumla and a start up incubation center each in all universities of the state. At the same time, he directed the Welfare Department to strengthen the ST, SC and OBC Authority. Das has also asked to suggest what can be done to provide loan to tribal people to start a business. The committee will give its report in a week.
The CM said that the government is committed to help the people so that nobody should drop education because of lack of funds. The tribal children are very intelligent and labourious. But because of lack of money, they can’t pursue their education. Some people look forward to politicize the matter but seldom do anything for development of the state or people.
Rural Development department Minister Nilkanth Singh Munda, Welfare Minister Louis Marandi, Education Minister Neera Yadav, Development Commissioner Amit Khare, Principal Secretary to the CM Sanjay Kumar, Additional CS, Health, K Vidyasagar, Higher Education Secretary Ajay Kumar Singh, Welfare Secretary, Himani Pandey, VK Das from State Bank Of India, SBI deputy GM SC Panda and BOI GM Prasad Joshi and other officers were present on this occasion.
[Source:-The Pioneer]
