4 Schemes In AP For Sonia's Birthday

Marking the birthday of UPA chairperson and AICC president Sonia Gandhi, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Friday approved 4 important files.

One of the files was on giving interest-free loans worth upto Rs. 5 lakh to members of self-help groups, from 1 January 2012.

A comprehensive 5-year package for the sugarcane sector, the increasing of man-days from 100 to 200 under the MGNREGA scheme, and the improvement of basic amenities in SC/ST colonies.

According to CMO, the state government aims to disburse loans worth Rs. 10,000 crore to SHG women this year.

Self-help groups in the rural areas would be given loans worth Rs. 9,000 crore while those in the urban areas would get loans worth Rs. 1,000 crore. The scheme will cause a financial burden of Rs. 1,400 crore on the state government.

Under the special package for sugarcane farmers, the government has increased the MSP by Rs. 200 per tonne, for 9 co-operative sugar factories.

The government has sanctioned Rs. 50 crore for this purpose. The government will also encourage factories to opt for co-generation, chemical production and other value-added products, to enhance value for factories and farmers.

The government has also decided to enhance the number of man-days under the NREGA scheme from 100 to 200, and also increase the wage component by 10% in December and 20% in the month of January. The government is likely to incur an additional expenditure of Rs. 200 crore for the scheme. (INN)