March 20, 2002

‘35’

    The Government is implementing the Rural Employment Generation Programme (REGP) and the Pradhan Manti Rozgar Yojana (PMRY) throughout the country to enhance employment opportunities and to empower economically the unemployed educated youth of the country including communities belonging to SC/ST. The REGP is being implemented through Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) and the PMRY is being implemented through District Industries Centres. Under the REGP, back-ended Capital Subsidy in the form of Margin Money is provided at the rate of 25 per cent of the project cost upto Rs. 10 lakh and 10 per cent on the balance project cost upto Rs. 25 lakh. The beneficiary is required to invest his own contribution of 10 per cent of the project cost. For weaker sections viz. SC/ST/OBC/Women/Physically Handicapped/Ex-Servicemen and Minority Community beneficiary/Institution and for Hill, Border and tribal areas, North Eastern Region, Sikkim, Andaman and Nicobar Island, Lakshadweep, the Margin Money grant is 30 per cent of the project cost upto Rs. 10 lakh and 10 per cent of the remaining cost of the project upto Rs. 25 lakh. In case of SC/ST and other weaker Sections beneficiary’s contribution is 5 per cent of the project cost. This scheme is being implemented through Public Sector banks, Regional Rural Banks etc.

    Under the PMRY, 80 per cent of the project cost comes as loans and rest 20 per cent is subsidy from the Central Government and margin money contribution from the beneficiary. The Scheme envisages 22.5 per cent reservation for SC/ST and 27 per cent for Other Backward Classes (OBC).

    This information was given by the Minister of Agro and Rural Industries, Shri Kariya Munda in a written reply to Shri Ramji Lal Suman in the Lok Sabha today.