Karur: The state-owned Tamil Nadu Adi Dravida housing development corporation (Thadco), exclusively meant for helping needy Dalit entrepreneurs by arranging subsidy linked financial assistance, has made rapid strides in Karur district.
Ravi, a carpenter of Pallapalayam panchayat, one of the beneficiaries of Thadco scheme and who was working under other master carpenters for daily wages, is now a proud owner of a carpentry unit, providing permanent jobs to five others, thanks Thadco's timely help which arranged bank finance of Rs 4 lakh.
Mr Ravi told DC that after becoming owner, his monthly income has gone up several-fold, which has helped him to meet out his family expenses besides regularly repaying the monthly instalment of his loan. He thanked former CM J. Jayalithaa and Karur collector S. Jayanthi for showing a new path through Thadco.
Similarly, Sivanandham of Reddipalayam village who shared the success story of his foray into entrepreneurship with Thadco's assistance, said he was now satisfied with his regular income through his ‘digital flex printing unit’, which is supplying digital flex hoardings and also making stickers for various types of two and four-wheelers and commercial vehicles like buses. His unit also has helped him to come out of the cycle of meagre income in the past and he has been able to employ a few others.
Karur collector J Jayanthi said during the last four years, Thadco has arranged subsidy-linked bank loan assistance of Rs 825.65 lakh to 3,136 Adi Dravidas in Karur district. They included eight Dalit women who were given Rs 7.01 lakh as bank loan under the land purchase scheme for women.
While 490 persons were given loan assistance under the new entrepreneurship scheme, 2290 were given loans under the economic assistance scheme, and 246 women self help groups benefitted under the revolving fund scheme.
The Karur district Thadco Manager, Mr Venkatesan said that Thadco has simplified its norms for arranging financial assistance for the benefit of the needy Adidravidas. He said the applicants need not come in person for submitting their forms seeking financial assistance. They could instead submit their application on line and the eligible applicants will be called for interview and beneficiaries selected for availing bank loan facilities for their new ventures, he added.
