Maharashtra Cabinet nod to Rs 750 cr scheme for women

The Maharashtra cabinet today okayed a proposal to implement a Rs 750-crore scheme for rural women's empowerment for which the International Agricultural Fund will provide a loan of Rs 115 crore.

Addressing a press conference after a cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said, "Under the scheme which will be called Tejswini, rural women will be provided micro-credit so that they can start their own businesses. They will also be provided with vocational training and marketing facilities for their products. The scheme will be implemented over next seven years."

Under the prime minister's Rs 3,750-crore package for Vidarbha, farmers were granted a Rs 712-crore loan waiver, of which Rs 115 crore was expected to be shared by the state government. The state cabinet today gave its formal nod to paying Rs 115 crore to banks for the interest waiver.

The cabinet also okayed the proposal of the Maharashtra State Electricity Generation Company Ltd (Mahagenco) to give the contract for commissioning its four thermal power station, expected to produce 2,000 Mw by 2010, to BHEL. The total cost of these projects is pegged at around Rs 10,000 crore.

The cabinet also okayed the proposal to increase the rate of power for powerlooms by 20 paisa per unit. However, despite this increase, the state will have to take the burden of Rs 320 crore as it offers subsidy to powerloom owners.