
A CORRESPONDENT
TANGLA: Assam Finance and Social Welfare Minister, Ajanta Neog on Sunday distributed 13,164 cheques in Category- I to waive microfinance loans availed by women of Udalguri district. Altogether 13,164 women beneficiaries from Udalguri have been covered under the Assam Micro Finance Incentive and Relief Scheme 2021 (AMFIRS).
The eligible beneficiaries were given the financial support at a ceremonial event held at Parade Ground of DC office in Udalguri. In Udalguri district the 13,164 woman beneficiaries received a total of Rs 23,45,69,294 under the ambitious scheme. Pertinently, to fulfil a major poll promise, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on November 28 last year rolled out the ambitious microfinance loan waiver scheme, benefitting around 24 lakh poor women across the state. The State Government has divided the loanees into three categories. Under Category I, the beneficiaries are provided with a one-time incentive up to Rs 25,000 or the outstanding balance, whichever is less, to incentivise them to continue maintaining good credit discipline.Category I of AMFIRS will benefit a total of 11 lakh women across the State.
The incentive cheque distribution event was also attended by Udalguri MLA Gobinda Chandra Basumatary, minister Urkhao Gwra Brahma among others.On September 30 last year, the Assam Cabinet had approved Rs 1,800 crore to waive microfinance loans availed by poor women in the first phase.While presenting the state Budget for 2021-22, Assam Finance Minister Ajanta Neog had said that almost 26 lakh borrowers took loans worth Rs 12,500 crore from various MFIs and the bulk of this portfolio is in rural areas.
Also Watch: