Una, October 8 – The Himachal Pradesh government is providing financial assistance under the Education Loan Scheme to encourage youth from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to pursue technical and vocational education. Under this scheme, loans up to ?75,000 are interest-free, and loans between ?75,000 and ?1.5 lakh are available at an annual interest rate of 4 to 5 percent.
The student's parent or guardian is required to co-borrow under the scheme. This facility is only available to students from families with an annual family income of less than ?3 lakh. Loans are also available through this scheme for diploma and degree courses such as JBT, MBBS, engineering, one-year hotel management, MBA, GAMS, MS, nursing, etc. Loan recovery begins two years after completion of the course or upon obtaining a job, whichever is earlier.
This information was provided to local villagers by Purvi Kalamanch Jalgran Tabba, a theatre group affiliated with the Information and Public Relations Department, through song, music, and street play programs held in Saloh and Dulahad of Haroli subdivision on Wednesday, the third day of the second phase of the campaign.
The artists explained that the education loan scheme helps economically weaker SC and ST students pursue higher education and fulfill their dreams. They also informed the villagers about other welfare schemes, including the Chief Minister's Sukh Ashray Yojana, the Indira Gandhi Sukh Shiksha Yojana, and the Indira Gandhi Sukh Suraksha Yojana.
The artists placed special emphasis on drug prevention, stating that drug addiction is a serious social evil, and only by avoiding it is possible to build a healthy and progressive society. They urged people to spread awareness against drug addiction.
On this occasion, Saloh's head Anita Jaswal, Dulahad's head Nand Kishore, ward members Pawan Kumar, Poonam Kumari and local villagers were present.