PANAJI
The flagship self-employment promoting scheme -- Chief Minister's Rojgar Yojna -- has been modified to do away with the income ceiling for beneficiaries and increase the age limit to 50 years.
The modified scheme has been notified by the State government and will now entail a loan of up to Rs 25 lakh at an attractive interest rate of just 2 per cent. It will continue to be administered by the Economic Development Corporation (EDC).
The rules of the scheme have also been relaxed to make eligible both new as well as existing business owners.
All businesses, except those dealing in alcohol and tobacco products, will be covered by the scheme. Common Service Centres and Village Level Enterprises, Start-ups , Homestays, Bed and Breakfast are some of the businesses listed as eligible.
Meanwhile, civil and electrical contractors have also been made eligible to avail the loan under the scheme but only for the purpose of acquiring fixed assets.
The Scheme will come into effect on April 1 this year and have a tenure of three years.
