The Tamil Nadu government has launched a special assistance scheme called “COVID19 Assistance Package” for rejuvenation of rural enterprises worth ₹300 crores.
The scheme covers a wide range of rural enterprise activities that includes production of soap, sanitizers, masks, hand wash, garments, dairy production, fisheries, poultry and other raw materials along with home appliances repairing. Both existing and new enterprises will be given financial assistance under the scheme.
The scheme entails
- a working capital assistance of ₹76 crores (as long term loan) through panchayat level federations to 31,952 individual enterprises,
- a one-time capital grant worth ₹97 crores to 31,960 members of 1598 existing producers’ groups,
- another one-time capital grant of ₹6 crores to 1200 members of 120 existing enterprise groups,
- start-up grant support of ₹50.19 crores to 5010 skilled migrant youth returnees for opening enterprises
- ₹7.5 crores to 75 producer collectives
- ₹49.92 crores as individual loan assistance soft loan for identified livelihood/enterprise activities of 31,952 differently ables and vulnerable persons.
The scheme is a part of the World Bank assisted Tamil Nadu Rural Transformation Project (TNRTP). The project is being implemented in 30 districts across the state covering 120 blocks and 3994 villages.
More than 1.39 lakh people are set to be beneficiaries of this special assistance scheme.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami launched the scheme and gave away assistance to five beneficiaries.