INCORPORATION
National Safai Karamcharis Finance & Development Corporation(NSKFDC), A wholly owned Govt. of India Undertaking under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (M/o SJ&E) was set up on 24th January 1997 as a Company Not for Profit' under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956. NSKFDC is in operation since October, 1997, as an Apex Corporation for the all round socio-economic upliftment of the Safai Karamcharis, Scavengers and their dependants throughout India,through various loan and non-loan based schemes.
Objectives
The major objectives of the Corporation as per Memorandum and Articles of Association are as under: -
- To promote self-employment ventures for the benefit and/or rehabilitation of Safai Karamcharis /Scavengers and their dependents, either individually or in groups, by way of grants, subsidy, soft loans or advances through the State Channelizing Agency designated by the State Government or Union Territory Administration and subject to the directions given by the Government from time to time.
- To extend loans to students from the community of Safai Karamcharis/Scavengers for pursuing professional or technical education at graduation or higher levels.
- To promote training, quality control, technology up-gradation and common facility centers for carrying out sanitation work.
- To impart the Skill Development Training and entrepreneurial skills of persons belonging to the community of Safai Karamcharis/Scavengers or their dependents for proper and efficient management of production and service units set up by them.
- To assist self-employed individuals or group of individuals from the community of Safai Karamcharis/Scavengers including their dependents or units/co-operatives set-up by them in procurement of raw materials or other inputs and marketing of finished goods or services.
- To work as an apex corporation for co-ordination and monitoring the work of all Corporations, Boards or Agencies set up by State Governments or Union Territory Administration for assisting Safai Karamcharis/ Scavengers and their dependents for their economic development.
- To help in strengthening the policies and programmes of the Government for socio-economic development of Safai Karamcharis/Scavengers and their dependents.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
The following person(s)/entities shall be considered eligible for availing financial assistance under the various schemes of NSKFDC:-
- Scavengers/Safai Karamcharis/Waste Pickers and their dependants duly identified.
- Registered co-operative societies of Safai Karamcharis.
- Legally constituted association/firm promoted by the target group, and
- Persons, who produce a certificate from local Revenue Officer/local Municipal Officer/Cantonment Executive Officer/Railway Officer, Head of the Govt. Departments (i.e. Schools, Colleges, Forest, Health, Education, Animal Husbandry) having rank not less than Gazetted Officer, Elected Members of Municipal Body, Pradhan of Gram Panchayats and Regional Managers of Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)/Nationalised Banks.
However, under the MS Act, 2013, a person identified as Manual Scavenger in a survey, need not to provide any certificate once his/her name appeared in the final list of Manual Scavengers prepared by State Governments/Union Territory Administration (www.mssurvey.nic.in).
- No income limit is fixed for availing financial assistance. However, other things being equal, NSKFDC accords priority to economic development and rehabilitation of –
(i) Scavengers and amongst scavengers those scavengers whose income is below double the poverty line;
(ii) Women from among the target group and
(iii) Disabled persons among the target group.
- Financial viability, income generating capacity of the project etc. are considered while evaluating the projects for financing.
Dependant in relation to a Safai Karamchari or a Scavenger means and includes a member of his family, who is dependent on him/her and has attained the age of 18 years & above for the purpose of financial assistance.
CENTRAL SECTOR SELF EMPLOYMENT SCHEME FOR REHABILITATION OF MANUAL SCAVENGERS (SRMS)
NSKFDC has been nominated as the Nodal Agency by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment for implementation of the Central Sector Self Employment Scheme for rehabilitation of manual scavengers (SRMs) in accordance with provisions of the 'Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013'.
The salient features of the SRMS Scheme are given below:-
| S.No. |
Salient features |
|
| 1. |
Eligibility |
Manual Scavengers identified during the survey conducted in States/Union Territories as per MS Act, 2013 |
| 2. |
Quantum of loan |
- Upto Rs. 10 lacs
- Upto Rs. 15 lacs in case of sanitation related projects |
| 3. |
Rate of interest
-For projects costing upto Rs. 25000
-For projects costing above Rs. 25000 |
5% p.a. (4% p.a. for women beneficiaries)
6% p.a. |
| 4. |
Moratorium period |
2 years |
| 5. |
Repayment period
-For projects costing upto Rs. 5 lacs
-For projects costing above Rs. 5 lacs |
5 years (including moratorium)
7 years (including moratorium) |
| 6. |
Subsidy |
|
| (a) |
Credit linked back-end capital subsidy |
|
|
-Upto Project cost of Rs. 2 lacs
-Between Rs.2 lacs to Rs. 5 lacs
-Between Rs. 5 lacs to Rs. 10 lacs
-Between Rs. 10 lacs to Rs. 15 lacsS |
50% of the project cost
Rs. 1 lac and 33.3% of the project cost between Rs. 2-5 lacs)
Rs. 2 lac and 25% of the project cost between Rs. 5 -10 lacs
Rs.3.25 lacs
|
| (b) |
Interest subsidy |
Equivalent to the amount of difference between the rate of interest charged by Banks and the rate prescribed under the scheme. |
