Udupi: 654 women entrepreneurs assisted under Udyogini scheme

Udupi: The State government’s Udyogini scheme intended to encourage women entrepreneurs to start their own small enterprises and make a living has benefitted 654 women entrepreneurs in the district.

The scheme was started in 2013 by the Department of Women and Child Welfare to improve the economic status of women especially those who are below the poverty line.

Under this scheme, loans are granted for beginning a start-up and working capital for small business.

The scheme is for women between the ages of 18-55 who have less than Rs 2 lakh annual income. The loans are disbursed to beneficiaries by a committee headed by the local MLA. Loans of up to Rs 3 lakhs are granted under this scheme.

The scheme will be implemented through the district unit of the State’s Women’s Development Corporation.

More than 88 small business start-ups which include home-based enterprises will be receiving loans under this scheme.

The Deputy Director of Women and Children Department of Udupi district Seshappa said that there was a good response to the scheme in the district as more applications were received than the target.