Kohima Bureau
Kohima, March 24 (EMN): The department of Women Resource Development Nagaland is stated to be implementing different categories of interest-free loan programmes for women entrepreneurs in the state.
The programmes are Promotion of Women in Innovative Enterprises (PWIEP), Women Entrepreneurial Development Initiatives (WEDI) and Micro Enterprise Development Schemes (MEDS). According to the latest annual administrative report of the department which was tabled in the Assembly, all three categories of the loan schemes are interest-free and revolving in nature.
The report stated that PWIEP targets upcoming innovative women entrepreneurs who want to start new enterprise, or is in need of fund to expand and develop their existing enterprises.
It revealed that an amount ranging from INR 2.50 lakh to INR.5 lakh is provided to each selected entrepreneurs. 74 women were stated to have been covered by the programme so far.
The WEDI programme is said to target women entrepreneurs from the rural areas, where an amount of INR 1 lakh per beneficiary was provided after a selection process conducted by the District Women Development Programme Monitoring Committee. The committee is headed by the Deputy Commissioner with representatives of partnering NGOs as members.
The MEDS programme targets destitute women with the objective to enable them start a micro-enterprise, such as a small shop, door-to door sales, vendorship etc. An amount ranging from INR 10,000 to INR 20,000 is stated to be provided to each beneficiary.
The department also provide financial assistance to destitute women who are widowed, unmarried, or abandoned. An amount of INR 2400 is provided to each beneficiary at INR 200 per month. Currently, it was reported that 3749 destitute women were being provided financial assistance in Nagaland.
