Javaid Naikoo
Srinagar, Jan 19: What could have turn out to be a major platform to open avenues of employment for youth in Kashmir much acclaimed Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed for Integrated Development of Small Ruminants and Rabbits (IDSRR) for 'wool and mutton' is in a stage of complete failure in south Kashmir.
According to the Government order no 126-ASH of 2011,dated 13-09-2011,a selection NGO's was made to implement this scheme in Kashmir to open avenues of self employment for youth and accordingly four NGO's identified as J&K Koushur Welfare Society Shopian, Indian Help Age Society Karan Nagar, Srinagar and Pulwama, Self Employed Women's Association Housing Colony Chanapora Srinagar and Kulgam and Human Welfare Foundation for Anantnag.
However, according to the data received from the chairman's of the said NGO's in Shopian and Pulwama, not single person yet have been benefited by these NGO's in these areas and the scheme is in the stage of utter failure.
"The applicants who applied to receive benefits from this scheme since 2011are still waiting for any response from the concerned officials to sanction a loan in their favour, one of the applicants alleged and added, "not only financial institutions are categorically denying them subsidy on loan but also lack of awareness about this scheme is a major hurdle.'
"Bank officials first said me to come up with a guarantor to sanction your loan, which I somehow managed by requesting a Government employee in neighbourhood to be my guarantor for the said scheme, however, after that they said apply for an insurance scheme first and then come, which infact mystified me, "said one applicant Imtiyaz Ahmad Lone who had applied in Punjab National Bank for subsidy amount in July last year.
According to the chairman of Pulwama NGO unit, Mudasira Qadri, not a single person could benefit from this scheme from her unit. She said that some 40 to 43 applicants applied for self help groups in 2012, but until now, nobody is in a position to establish his/her self help unit.
Meanwhile, chairman of Shopian NGO, Abdul Waheed allegedly said financial institutions are not sanctioning loan in favour of applicants. He said that major banks including Jammu and Kashmir Bank, Punjab National Bank or State Bank of India have failed to come true to the expectations of youths applying for the loan. |
