A total of 1247 minority entrepreneurs were selected for financial help by the Bihar government’s industries department out of a total 28260 applicants.
Patna, October 31: Three districts of Seemanchal – Purnia, Araria and Kishanganj and two Champarans – East and West – got the major share in Bihar’s minority entrepreneurship scheme. A total of 1247 minority entrepreneurs were selected for financial help by the Bihar government’s industries department out of a total 28260 applicants. This was announced here on Monday.
The scheme called Mukhyamantri Alpsankhyak Udyami Yojna (Chief Minister Minority Entrepreneur Scheme) provides financial help of up to ten lakh rupees. Half of the loan amount is waived off as a subsidy while the other half is required to be paid in 84 instalments. There is a fund of Rs. 100 crores for this scheme.
This is the first disbursement of loan under this scheme. Applications were sought between 5 and 20 October this year. The beneficiaries were selected in a computerized random process in the presence of Bihar’s industries minister Samir Kumar Mahaseth, minority welfare minister Mohammad Zaman Khan and the officials.
Mr. Zaman Khan thanked Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for initiating this scheme. Mr. Mahaseth said that the scheme was unique. This is a part of Bihar entrepreneurship scheme covering SC/ST, EBC (Extremely Backward Castes), Women and Youth separately.
Ninety-seven applicants from Katihar were selected from Katihar, which is the maximum number. At number two is Purnea, wherefrom 89 applications were approved. This was followed by 85 from Araria and 81 from Kishanganj. These four districts consist of Seemanchal, where the population of Muslims is higher.
Seventy entrepreneurs were selected from East Champaran and 62 from West Champaran. There were 63 from Darbhanga and 58 were selected from Madhubani. The least 3 each were selected from Sheikhpura and Lakhisarai. Gaya performed not so well with only 34 approved applications while it is a big district.
