Una, July 16: The Himachal Pradesh government is providing financial assistance under an education loan scheme aimed at empowering youth from Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities in the fields of technical subjects and vocational education. Under this scheme, there is a provision to provide interest-free loans of up to ?75,000, and loans ranging from ?75,000 to ?1.5 lakh at an annual interest rate of 4 to 5 percent.
It is mandatory for the student's parents or guardians to act as co-borrowers under the scheme. This facility is available only to students from families with an annual income of less than ?3 lakh. Loans are available for various diploma and degree courses, such as JBT, MBBS, Engineering, one-year Hotel Management, MBA, GAMS, MS, Nursing, etc. Loan repayment begins two years after the completion of the course or upon securing employment, whichever occurs earlier.
The 'Purvi Kalamanch' drama troupe from Jalgran Tabba—affiliated with the Department of Information and Public Relations—conveyed this information to local villagers on Thursday. This took place during the third day of the campaign's second phase, through musical performances and street plays (nukkad nataks) organized in the Batuhi and Lamlahri Upparli areas of Una subdivision.
The artists explained that the education loan scheme assists students from economically weaker SC and ST backgrounds in pursuing higher education and realizing their dreams. Additionally, they informed the villagers about other welfare schemes, including the Chief Minister Sukh Aashray Yojana, Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana, Indira Gandhi Sukh Suraksha Yojana, and Swarn Jayanti Aashray Yojana.
During the event, the artists placed special emphasis on drug prevention, stating that drug abuse is a serious social evil and that a healthy, progressive society can only be built by staying away from it. They urged the people to spread awareness against drug abuse. **Schedule of Upcoming Public Awareness Programs**
The Purvi Kala Manch, Jalgraan-Tabba, will conduct programs featuring music and street plays to entertain the public while informing them about public welfare schemes. These events are scheduled for July 17 in Jakhera and Bahdala Lower (Una), and for July 18 in Paroiyan Kalan and Pansai.
Local villagers were present on the occasion, including Batuhi Panchayat Pradhan Gurdyal Singh; Lamlehri Upper Pradhan Ashok Kumar; Deputy Pradhan Rampal; Batuhi Deputy Pradhan Kamlesh Kumar; and Ward Members Reena Kumari, Ranjana Kumari, Anju Bala, Ranjana Devi, Monika Devi, Malkiyat Singh, and Yamuna Devi.