THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government will provide bank guarantee of `150 crore to the Kerala State Women’s Development Corporation for availing of loans from Central agencies.
The decision was taken at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. With the allocation, the government assistance for the KSWDC has gone up to `210 crore. The government had earlier allotted `60 crore to the KSWDC in the state budget.
“The total of `210 crore the Corporation has received this fiscal will be a big boost to its activities,” KSWDC Managing Director Bindu V C said. She added that it would enable KSWDC to disburse loans at low rates to more women. KSWDC currently provides women entrepreneurs in the micro and small- scale sector loans of up to `10 lakh at a interest of 6 per cent. The loans are disbursed through the KSWDC regional offices in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode.
KSWDC takes loans from the Centre at three per cent interest and provides loans to women without any guarantee. Women and self-help groups can become beneficiaries of KSWDC loans. The Corporation also disburses educational loans.