A Self-Employment Scheme is being implemented in the state for the people of scheduled castes. This scheme aims at improving the economic condition of the scheduled caste people living below the poverty line in Madhya Pradesh.

Under this scheme, bank loans are made available to the unemployed scheduled caste people for starting small cottage industries, agriculture, animal husbandry and retail business. Fifty percent amount of the loan sanctioned or the maximum of Rs. ten thousand, whichever is less, is given to the scheduled castes candidate as a grant.

According to the process of selection of the beneficiaries, the applicant will have to send his application with the photocopies of his certificates about his income, caste and the place of residence to the District Antyavsayi Sahkari Vikas Samiti or deposit them in the room set up under the same roof of Zila Udyog Kendra. The selection of the candidate will be made at the district level. Steps for making the loans available to the selected eligible beneficiaries will be taken subsequently.

The applicant should be a member of scheduled castes, bonafide resident of the district, should have a gazetted officer's certificate of below the poverty line, a copy of the ration card, caste certificate and should file an affidavit of not having taken loans from any source earlier. The age of the applicant should be between 18 and 45 years. The applicant will have to produce an income certificate from the revenue officer and his income should not exceed Rs. 15,976 in the rural areas and Rs. 21,206in the urban area.

The applicant desiring to get the benefit of the scheme may contact the district level executive officer of the District Antyavasayi Sahakari Vikas Nigam Ltd., or the General Manager of the District Vyapar Evam Udyog Kendra for more information of the scheme.