Applications invited from minorities, students

VISAKHAPATNAM: The AP State Minorities Finance Corporation Ltd., has invited applications from minority communities i.e., Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis, for its schemes for 2008-09, according to the executive director of the corporation here.
The schemes offered are economic assistance for self-employment units, minority artisans’ development scheme in clusters, micro credit to members of Development of Minority Women in Urban Areas (DOUMA), pre-metric and post-metric scholarships and reimbursement of tuition fee.

Under the economic assistance scheme, the subsidy is 50 per cent of the unit cost subject to a maximum limit of Rs.30,000. In the artisan scheme with the maximum unit cost of Rs.50,000, a subsidy of 50 per cent is offered. Under the DOUMA on the lines of DWCRA, the corporation provides a revolving fund equivalent to the savings subject to the maximum of Rs.10,000.
Pre-metric scholarships will be sanctioned to economically backward minority students from Class VI to X the income of whose parent/guardian is below Rs.1 lakhs per annum. The last date for receipt of applications is August 31. Post-metric scholarships and reimbursement of tuition fee will be sanctioned to the economically backward minority students. The scholarships are meant for students of Intermediate, graduation, PG and professional courses. The last date for receipt of applications is September 30.