Agartala, November 30:Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha presided over the inaugural ceremony of destruction of various items, loans and sports items among Schedule Cast community members hosted at Rabindra Shatabarshiki Bhawan in Agartala. The event organized by the SC Welfare department marked the commencement of a comprehensive statewide program aimed at empowering the schedule caste (SC) community.
The initiative encompassed the distribution of essential resources, including sewing machines, small business loans, and educational loans, along with games and sports items.
A total of 1000 beneficiaries across the state were slated to receive sewing machines, symbolizing a tangible step towards fostering economic independence.
During the ceremony, Chief Minister Manik Saha, along with Mayor Dipak Majumder and SC Welfare Minister Sudangshu Das, handed out 307 sewing machines to deserving recipients.
The economic empowerment aspect extended further, with 848 small business owners being granted non-returnable business loans amounting to Rs 10,000 each. Notably, the potential for doubling this amount as an award was introduced, contingent on the successful development of their respective business models.
This strategic move aimed to not only provide financial assistance but also to incentivize the recipients towards sustainable business growth.
The economic initiatives didn’t stop there; 2500 small shopkeepers and vendors from the SC community were equipped with weighting machines, enhancing their business capabilities and contributing to their overall development.
The program addressed educational needs by distributing 500 bicycles among SC students.
Complementing this, sports items were provided for hostel students, ensuring a holistic approach to educational support.
SC Welfare Minister Sudangshu Das, while acknowledging the challenges in reaching beneficiaries with existing schemes, emphasized the importance of special initiatives designed to promote education and awareness.
Chief Minister Saha underscored the government’s commitment to the welfare of the SC community.
He highlighted the Prime Minister’s proactive steps in creating widespread awareness of various government development schemes, epitomized by the Vikshit Bharat Sankalpa Yatra.
The Chief Minister specifically detailed scholarships for SC students, including an annual pre-matriculation scholarship of Rs 7000, with 90 percent sponsored by the central government and the remaining 10 percent by the state. Non-hostellers were not left out, receiving an annual scholarship of Rs 3500.
Post-matriculation SC students were encouraged to apply for scholarships ranging from Rs 2700 to Rs 413500 through the National Students Portal, showcasing the government’s commitment to facilitating education at all levels.
In a symbolic gesture of tangible support, Chief Minister Saha, SC Welfare Minister Sudangshu Das, Mayor Dipak Majumder, and other dignitaries actively participated in the distribution of checks for loans, stipends, sewing machines, and sports items.
This hands-on approach reiterated the government’s dedication to ensuring the holistic development and support of the SC community through an array of well-thought-out schemes.
