Lok Sabha Question No. 1324 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-03
Subject: Vishwas Scheme
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Dhairyasheel Sambhajirao Mane, Shri Sudheer Gupta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1324 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.12.2024

## VISHWAS SCHEME

## 1324. SHRI DHAIRYASHEEL SAMBHAJRAO MANE: SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has launched a new scheme named Vishwas Scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the salient features of the said scheme;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to provide any subsidy to the SC, OBC and sanitation workers under the scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government has fixed any criteria for availing the benefits under the scheme and if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the funds earmarked/sanctioned/released under the said scheme during the current year; and
- (f) the measures taken by the Government so that the benefits of the scheme are reaped by the needy at the last mile?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

(DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)

(a) & (b): After an extensive stakeholder consultation, the Government has launched "Vanchit Ikai Samooh aur Vargon Ki Aarthik Sahayta Yojana" (VISVAS) Scheme with the objective of providing interest subvention @5% to the eligible Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Individual beneficiaries who have availed loans through Public Sector Banks (PSBs), Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Private Sector Banks, Small Finance Banks, and other similar Financial Institutions (FIs).

Individuals belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC), Other Backward Classes (OBC) and Safai Karamcharis (including identified Manual Scavengers, Waste pickers, and their dependents) will be eligible for interest subvention. The Scheme is being implemented initially for 202425 and 2025-26 and would be implemented by the three Finance Development Corporations of the Department of Social Justice & Empowerment, namely, National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCDC), National Scheduled Castes Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) and National SafaiKaramchari Finance Development Corporation (NSKFDC).

(c) & (d): Scheduled Caste and Other Backward Class individuals with annual family income upto Rs 3.00 lakh are eligible for the subvention benefits for loans up to Rs 5.00 lakh. No income criteria will be applicable in case of Safai Karamcharis (including identified Manual Scavengers, Waste pickers, and their dependents). Further SHGs supported by any Lending Institution through loans/cash credit limit upto Rs 10.00 lakh will be eligible for interest subvention. The composition of members of SHGs must be such that at least 70% of members of SHG must be either SC, OBC or Safai Karamchari.

(e): For the current Financial Year 2024-25, Rs 97.5 Crore (RE) has been earmarked towards interest subvention amount.

(f): In order to ensure that the benefits of the Scheme are made available to the needy, following measures have been taken: i) An inclusive approach has been adopted by leveraging the extensive network of Public Sector Banks, State Channelizing agencies, Micro Finance Institutions and RRBs through the three Finance Development Corporations. ii) To ensure effective implementation at the grassroots level, extensive consultations were held with lending institutions to familiarize them about the Scheme and the claim submission through a single point digital platform for all financial inclusion schemes of the department, namely PM SURAJ. iii) Standardized promotional materials have been provided to Banks to facilitate adequate publicity and awareness among potential beneficiaries, iv) Public awareness about the Scheme is being ensured by display of information and details of the Scheme at Banks and other locations, v) Interest subvention amount will be directly credited into beneficiaries' account through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode.

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