BJP Accuses Odisha Govt Of Rebranding Centre’s MSME Scheme As SWAYAM

Bhubaneswar: BJP on Tuesday said the Swayam Yojana, approved by Odisha Cabinet on Monday, is a rehash of a Central scheme and an election gimmick.

Briefing the media in Bhubaneswar on Tuesday, spokesperson of Odisha BJP Anil Biswal accused the state government of hijacking Central schemes. Swayam is nothing but a remake of the Centre’s Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprise (CGTMSE).

The state Cabinet on Monday approved interest-free loans upto Rs 1 lakh to unemployed youth of the state under the Swatantra Yuva Udyami (SWAYAM) yojana.

“The Centre’s CGTMSE has a provision for granting loans upto a maximum limit of Rs 5 crore. It is a fund given under MSME. The Centre provides 85% interest subsidy in loan upto Rs 5 lakh. Instead of letting the youth of Odisha avail it, the state government launched SWAYAM which would provide a loan of only Rs 1 lakh,” he said.

Moreover, the Swayam scheme is meant for only urban youth whereas the MSME scheme is meant for both rural and urban youths.

Biswal said the BJD has a habit of not keeping its promises made during the elections. “The state party, in its manifesto during 2019 elections, had promised employment to 30 lakh youths under Make in Odisha. Likewise, its 2014 manifesto promised 11 lakh employment in gram panchayat areas and the 2009 manifesto promised 15 lakh employment, which amount to providing jobs and self-employment to around 56 lakh unemployed youths of the state. But did the government fulfill its promises despite winning in all the elections,” he questioned and demanded that the government should release a White Paper on this.