PM Modi is always empathetic with poor : Nirmala Seetharaman

Chennai, Oct 14: About 75 of every 100 beneficiaries of Mudra loans scheme, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, were women and that shows the Centre’s concern for them, Union Defence Minister Ms Nirmala Seetharaman said today. 'As Mr Modi hailed from a poor background, he was always empathetic with the poor. That’s why he brought Mudra loans scheme immediately after coming to power,’ she said, while participating in a Mudra promotion campaign organised by the State-level Bankers Committee in association with the Indian Overseas Bank here. She said 'in this day and age, the poor are hesitating to visit banks as they lack confidence. With Mudra loans, our Prime Minister addressed the very basic need. With the help of bank mithra (friend), Mr Modi took bank officials directly to every poor person’s house to open accounts'. 'This is how he has struggled for the upliftment of the lower strata of the society', she added. Municipal Administration and Rural Development Minister S P Velumani, in his address, said 'right from the time Mr Modi implemented Mudra loan scheme in 2015, lakhs of aspiring entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu were able to successfully start and grow their businesses.' 'Shop-keepers, small business owners, handicraft makers, emerging industries are greatly benefitting from this scheme. Also, there are over 35,000 street vendors in Chennai and they are also benefiting from it', he added. The loan ranges from Rs 50,000 to Rs 10 lakh. Till now, as per Reserve Bank data, Rs 8,000 crore has been granted as Mudra loans in the state,’ he added. Mr Velumani also requested Ms Nirmala Seetharaman to open a defence park in Coimbatore. He also invited her for the opening ceremony of two industrial parks in Coimbatore which will employ over 12,000 people. Later, the Defence Minister gave away loans to beneficiaries. On the occasion, three successful entrepreneurs, Padmavati, Dhanalakshmi and Vignesh Kumar, who were benefitted under the Mudra loan scheme shared their success stories. A book on the success stories of Mudra beneficiaries was also released by Ms Nirmala Seetharaman. She also opened IOB’s new market place similar to Amazon, which could be accessed through jobbazzaar.com. UNI