UDUPI (TNN) : M A Gafoor, chairperson for Karnataka Minorities Development Corporation, said that the state government has allocated Rs 250 crore for the development of the minority community.

While addressing the media, Gafoor said, "For minority development and welfare, the state government has allocated Rs 200 crore budget and an additional Rs 50 crore for Christian community. National Minorities Development Corporation also extends assistance by assuring Rs 23 crore for education purpose and it is expected to be released soon. Minority Corporation includes people from different religions like Muslims, Christians, Jains, Parsis, Buddhists and Anglo Indian. It was started in 1986. At present, they have 186 employees working."

The commission will concentrate more on self-reliant projects like marginal loans and beneficial loans. It will have an education loan scheme, micro loan scheme and Ganga Kalyan Scheme (famers who have 2 to 5 acres of land, will be given free borewell upto Rs 2 lakh).

For Christ society, loan for housing and renovation work will be given. For farmers, land purchasing scheme will be introduced soon.

Under the student's schemes, Udupi district is developed with 600 beneficiaries a year. However, Dakshin Kannada and Mysuru district lag behind.

The corporation aimed at supporting 5,998 people from the Udupi district with Rs 1.56 crore. However, the target reached was 8,716 beneficiaries with Rs 2 crore. Hence, the achievement is 126%, claimed Gafoor.

Muslims have been allocated Rs 6.94 crore, Christians - Rs 4.20 crore, Jains - Rs. 1.1 crore and for others Rs 1.16 crore has been allocated.

"Udupi has the best loan repay system. We aim to work without any financial hurdle and without waiting for government grants. In 2016 alone, Rs.1.23 crore were repaid. Under Ganga Kalyan Yojana from Udupi, 600 beneficiaries have applied for borewell, which will be given soon," said Gafoor.