Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (TP)

Udupi, Oct 20: “Various loan schemes, subsidies, and welfare programs are being effectively implemented through the Corporation,” said, director of the Karnataka Christian Community Development Corporation (KCCDC) Prashanth Jathanna.

Director Prashanth Jathanna, speaking at the press conference held on October 20, stated that the Government of Karnataka, under the vision of ‘Equal Share for All, Equal Opportunity for All’, has established separate corporations for the empowerment of marginalized communities, and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been implementing special schemes for the same.

The Karnataka Christian Community Development Corporation (KCCDC) was formed for the social and economic welfare of the Christian community and for the strengthening of its institutions, with the government allocating Rs 250 cr in funding.

Previously functioning as the Christian Development Committee, this corporation was established due to the collective efforts of community leaders such as K J George, Ivan D’Souza, J R Lobo, the archbishop of Bengaluru, and many others. Their initiative received strong support from deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar and minority affairs minister Zameer Ahmad Khan, leading to the official formation of this Corporation.

The Karnataka Christian Development Corporation (KCCDC) officially launched its new loan, subsidy, and welfare schemes along with its official web portal on October 17, at Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation (KMDC) Bhavan, Seshadripuram, Bengaluru. The portal contains detailed information about all available financial and welfare schemes.

Loan and subsidy schemes

Arivu education loan scheme – For students who have qualified in CET or NEET examinations. (Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lac)
Foreign education loan scheme – For students admitted to universities abroad. (Up to Rs 20 lac)
Swavalambi Saarathi scheme – Subsidy for purchasing taxis, goods vehicles, or auto rickshaws. (Rs 75,000 to Rs 3 lac)
Shramashakti scheme – To start or expand small businesses. (Rs 50,000: Rs 25,000 loan + Rs 25,000 subsidy)
Shramashakti special women scheme – For economic empowerment of widows, divorced, and unmarried women. (Rs 50,000: Rs 25,000 loan + Rs 25,000 subsidy)
Vritti Protsaha scheme – To start small trade/retail or repair services. (Rs 1 lac: Rs 50,000 loan + Rs 50,000 subsidy)
Ganga Kalyana scheme – For borewell drilling, pump installation, and power connection. (Subsidy of Rs 3 lac to Rs 4 lac)
Direct business loan scheme – For starting or expanding commercial or business activities. (Loan up to Rs 20 lac)
Women self-help group subsidy scheme – For undertaking self-employment activities. (50% subsidy, up to Rs 2 lac)

Community-Based Skill Development training programmes – To create employment opportunities for unemployed youth.

Prashanth Jathanna further stated that under Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s leadership, the government is sincerely implementing various development programs for the Christian community, and urged all members of the community to make full use of these benefits.

The press conference was attended by leaders Veronica Cornelio, Roshni Oliver, Vinod Crasta, Sadananda Kanchan, Sharfuddin, Charles Ambler, and Gladson.