Staff Reporter,
Guwahati, August 9: Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday attended as chief guest the 27th Foundation Day celebration of the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation, or NeDFI, at the Guwahati-based headquarter of the public financial institution. The Chief Minister, at the event, launched the “NeDFI Micro Lending Scheme”, aimed at lending a helping hand to the small enterprises and entrepreneurs of the North-eastern region. This apart, the Chief Minister also launched the “NeDFI Haat” website, a mobile-based application titled “Advancing Northeast '' – a joint initiative between NeDFI and North-eastern Council (NEC). Dr. Sarma also inaugurated the training programme being conducted by NeDFI for aspirants of the “Agniveer '' recruitment scheme and distributed local weavers-woven, handloom-produced uniforms to school students. Chief Minister Dr. Sarma also announced a contribution of ₹100 crores by the state government towards the “Micro Lending Scheme” launched today. Further, the Chief Minister handed over a cheque of ₹7.89 crore on behalf of NeDFI to be distributed among 669 numbers of borrowers under this scheme. Addressing the occasion, the Chief Minister congratulated the financial institution, providing assistance to micro, small, medium and large enterprises for setting up industrial, infrastructure projects in the region, for having completed 27 years of glorious existence. “NeDFI is playing an important role in empowering our region and its people. I hope the NeDFI Micro Lending Scheme with loan size up-to ₹2 lakh per beneficiary will help micro entrepreneurs in setting up and expanding their economic activities in Assam and other parts of Northeast,” the Chief minister said, adding:
“I urge the people of the region to take the benefits of the scheme and lead a life of self-reliance and independence and contribute towards the growth of the society.” Dr. Sarma stated that the current dispensation at the Centre and the state have a clear agenda of empowering the people of the region, especially the youths, through the entrepreneurial route. This, the Chief Minister stated, would bestow financial independence and employment opportunities on the youths of the region. Dr. Sarma also said that the government of Assam has well laid-out plans and policies in place for giving boost to the start-up environment, cluster growth and enterprise development in the state. Speaking on the “NeDFI Haat” website launched today, the Chief Minister said: “It (the website) will be a very powerful platform for market linkages to the artisans and the weavers. I am happy to learn that with the launch of this website, our products will now be made easily available all over the country as well as abroad.” He further added: “It will help increase NeDFI’s presence cutting across all boundaries and frontiers.” The Chief Minister also spoke of the state government’s One District-One Product agenda, which when fully implemented, he said, would lead to financial gains for hundreds of thousands of rural folks in the interiors of the state. Speaking on the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, the Chief Minister stated that members of self-help groups have benefited immensely through their participation in the supply chain of the national flag. The campaign has helped women-led self-help groups attain financial empowerment through the sale of national flags of various sizes produced by them, Dr. Sarma added. NeDFI Chairman and Managing Director PVSLN Murty and its Executive Director SK Baruah were also present on the occasion.
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