The Gazetteers Department

(1) Scheme for Grant of Loans and Subsidies to Educated Unemployed persons and bonafide craftsmen for purchase of tools and equipment—Under this scheme financial assistance up to Rs. 3,000 can be sanctioned to educated unemployed persons and financial assistance up to Rs. 2,000 to trained and hereditary artisans in the form of loan and subsidy. During 1952-53, the State gave Rs. 400 by way of financial assistance to such persons in the district. This amount of assistance was further raised to Rs. 1,000 in 1953-54 and Rs. 2,500 in 1954-55.

Loans and Subsidles to Backward Class artisans.

(2) Scheme for Grant of Loans and Subsidies to Backward Class artisans for the purchase of tools and equipment and for working capital.—This financial assistance is given according to the rules of Government Resolution, Revenue Department (No. 4531/39, dated 25th July 1947). Preference and concession are given to those who are trained in Government peripatetic schools or institutions recognised by Government. During the first three years from the inception of the scheme in this district no assistance of this type was extended to the artisans. In 1954-55, however, the Backward Class artisans received Rs. 1,000 by way of loans from the State. In the following year this amount was more than doubled when Rs. 2,840 were sanctioned to this class by way of loans and Rs. 160 by way of subsidy.

Loans and Subsidles to Co-operative Societies.

(3) Scheme for Grant of Loans and Subsidies to Co-operative Societies for purchase of tools and equipment and for working capital.—Under this scheme co-operative societies whose one-third membership consists of bonafide craftsmen can be granted financial assistance up to Rs. 5,000 of which half the amount can be granted in the form of subsidy. Loans are given free of interest to those co-operative societies, the majority of whose members come from backward classes. For other societies interest at 4�%is charged.

Co-operative societies in Ratnagiri district received a loan of Rs. 2,400 from the State in the year 1953-54 for developing the coir industry in the district. In the following year the societies received Rs. 825 as loan and Rs. 275 as subsidy for developing the tanning and leather industry.

Loans to Cottage and Village Industries.

(4) Scheme for State Aid to Small Scale and Cottage Industries.—Under this scheme loans can be sanctioned for (i) construction work, purchase and erection of machinery, (ii) plant and appliances, (iii) working capital and (iv) purchase of raw materials.

This scheme has been only recently introduced in this district and no financial assistance has been given so far.

Loans and Subsidies to encourage use of new ghanis.

(5) Scheme for grant of Nutan Ghanis on loan-subsidy basis.—Under this scheme ghanis are sanctioned to hereditary telis, oilmen's co-operative societies and other institutions. The scheme is started to induce oilmen to use improved types of ghanis and thereby increase production. The hereditary telis can purchase the ghani at half its cost, if they are convinced of its working and advantages after trial for three months. This cost is to be treated as interest-free loan from Government and it is to be repaid in monthly instalments of rupees five each. The remaining half of the cost is to be treated as subsidy from the Government. Telis are also eligible for financial assistance up to Rs. 1,000 for the purchase of raw material and for working capital. Repayment of the loan is spread over a period not exceeding five years and in equal monthly instalments. The ' Nutan Ghanis' are supplied to telis and their co-operative societies on loan-cum-subsidy basis. Here the amount of subsidy is not more than one-fourth of the total cost or Rs. 75, whichever is less.

To begin with, the State granted Rs. 265 in 1952-53 by way of financial assistance to the various societies of oilmen in this district. In 1954-55, loans upto Rs. 200 were made under the same scheme.

There are other schemes under which the Government sanctions loans and grants-in-aid to individuals and co-operative societies. There are also schemes under which financial assistance against Government guarantee is given to different societies. No assistance under these schemes, however, has been rendered in this district so far.

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