To impart training to the youths in various employment-oriented professions in Chhattisgarh, the National Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (NABARD) has offered to give loan facility to the state government for the establishment of livelihood colleges in the district headquarters.
Chief general manager of Raipur branch of the bank, SK Bansal has placed the proposal before the chief minister Dr Raman Singh, at the residence of the latter on Tuesday. While welcoming the proposal, the chief minister said that the state government would be opening livelihood colleges at the district headquarters and they would get help from this step taken by NABARD.
Bansal told the chief minister that the bank was ready to help the state government for the establishment of veterinary colleges and in the new fields like drinking water arrangement and facilities related to cleanliness in schools.
He said, according to the intention of the state government, NABARD has been providing loan to the forest rights recognition letter holder forest-dwellers for farming and this year financial aid would be made available to the forest-dwellers on the basis of priority.
The chief minister said that the state government would prepare various project proposals as per the needs and assistance would be sought from NABARD.
Bansal told the chief minister that NABARD would be organizing a Kisan Sammelan in the month of July and under this programme, assistance was being given to self help groups for preparation of mango, cashew and lemon orchards in barren land. Under this scheme 56 projects are going on, in which more than 40,000 families have been joined, he added.