Provide vocational training along with loans'

Mangalore, April 21: Vocational training along with lending of loans will help in ensuring that economic development of members of minority communities is achieved in the true sense, said N Yogish Bhat, MLA.

He was speaking at a loan cheques distribution programme for Christians organized by the Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation Limited (KMDCL), Government of Karnataka, at Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat in Mangalore on Saturday.

Stating that many a time the loans provided by the government are not utilized by the beneficiaries, Mr. Bhat said that provision of vocational training can help a great deal in reversing that trend. “Many beneficiaries, owing to lack of vocational training, use the money given by the government for other purposes and reach a stage where they are not able to repay those loans. If proper vocational training is given, then they are more likely to invest the loans in their respective vocations which is the right way to utilize those loans. I have noticed that Christians are good at jasmine production and the Muslims are expert in mechanical activities. Perhaps proper training to the beneficiaries of loans will help them grow”, Mr. Bhat opined.

Stating that merely granting loans and maintaining accounts of the loans provided is not enough, Mr. Bhat suggested that social audit also be maintained so that evaluation as to whether the recipients of the loans have truly benefited or not is made on a regular basis.

U T Khader, MLA, in his address urged the beneficiaries to channelize the loans in the right manner and devise strategies to enable their economic growth. “Even Infosys began with a small investment. Chalk out plans as to how best you can use these loans for good”, he said.

The MLA opined that off the Rs.1lakh crore budget that the state government presents, Rs. 100 crore be set aside for Christian community welfare as against the existing Rs. 50 crore and Rs. 500 crores for overall minorities welfare programmes. Mr. Khader also said that the government must relax laws concerning license for construction and renovation of churches.

N B Aboobakkar, Chairman, Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation Limited (KMDCL), in his introductory remarks said that BJP led state government of Karnataka had done more for the minorities than other governments in the past. Mr. Aboobakkar stressed on the need to provide facilities to beneficiaries directly without any middlemen involvement, adding that he had taken action against such brokers in Chikkaballapur and Raichur districts once it came to his notice. Stating that services have now become online, Mr. Aboobakkar said that the KMDCL under his leadership has earned the numero uno position in the state among all other Corporations in the state and third place in the country.

Franklin Monteiro, member of the Karnataka State Christians' Development Committee, said that the BJP government in Karnataka has provided Rs 370 crores for the development of Christian community. It has also sanctioned an amount of about Rs 6 crore for construction, renovation and repairs of churches belonging to various denominations.

Cheques worth Rs 138.32 lakhs under various schemes were distributed among 825 beneficiaries and self-help groups on the occasion.