The Saranya Self-Employment Scheme is an initiative by the Government of Kerala aimed at empowering marginalized women by providing financial assistance to start self-employment ventures. Eligible beneficiaries include widows, divorced or deserted women, spinsters above the age of 30, unmarried mothers from Scheduled Tribes, differently-abled women, and wives of bedridden patients. The scheme offers an interest-free loan of up to ₹50,000, with 50% (up to ₹25,000) reimbursed as a government subsidy. Repayment is structured over 60 equal monthly installments.
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Eligibility Criteria
- Widows: Women whose husbands are deceased and who have not remarried. A certificate from the Village Officer or local governing body is required.
- Divorced Women: Women divorced through a court or religious organization, with a certificate confirming they have not remarried.
- Deserted Women: Women deserted by their husbands or whose husbands have been missing for at least seven years, with a certificate from the Tahsildar confirming they have not remarried.
- Spinsters: Unmarried women above 30 years of age as of April 1st of the application year, with a certificate from the Village Officer.
- Unmarried Mothers (Scheduled Tribe): Unmarried mothers belonging to Scheduled Tribes, with a certificate from the Village Officer stating caste and community.
Applicants must be registered with the Employment Exchange and have an annual family income not exceeding ₹1,00,000. Preference is given to those with professional or technical qualifications.
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Application Process:
- Obtain Application Form: Available free of cost from the Employment Exchange where the candidate is registered.
- Submit Required Documents: Along with the application, submit a detailed project report and income certificate from the Village Officer.
- Verification: The Employment Exchange will verify the application and documents.
- Approval: Verified applications are forwarded to the District Committee for sanctioning loans.
- Disbursement: Upon approval, the loan amount is directly transferred to the applicant’s bank account by the Employment id
For ventures requiring more than ₹50,000, the applicant must contribute 10% of the additional amount and will incur a 3% flat-rate interest on the excess sum. Successful ventures that have repaid at least 50% of the loan may be eligible for additional loans up to 80% of the original amount at nominal interest rates for expansion purposes.
Please note that this scheme is specific to the state of Kerala, India. If you are located outside Kerala or India, you may need to explore local programs or initiatives that support women’s self-employment and entrepreneurship.
How to apply for Saranya Self-Employment Scheme
To apply for the Saranya Self-Employment Scheme in Kerala, follow these steps:
- Obtain the Application Form:
- Download the form from the official website of the National Employment Service Kerala: employment.kerala.gov.in.
- Alternatively, collect it from the Employment Exchange where you are registered.
- Prepare Necessary Documents:
- Detailed Project Report: Outline your proposed self-employment venture.
- Income Certificate: Obtain from the Village Officer confirming your annual family income does not exceed ₹1,00,000.
- Relevant Certificates: Depending on your category (e.g., widow, divorced, deserted, spinster, unmarried mother), secure the appropriate certificate from authorized officials such as the Village Officer, Tahsildar, or local governing body.
- Submit the Application:
- Visit your registered Employment Exchange and submit the completed application form along with the required documents.
- Application Verification:
- The Employment Exchange will verify the accuracy of your application and supporting documents.
- Approval Process:
- After verification, the District Employment Officer forwards the application to the District Committee, chaired by the District Collector, for loan sanctioning.
- Loan Disbursement:
- Upon approval, the loan amount is directly credited to your bank account by the Employment Department.
Monitoring and Repayment:
- The Director of Employment oversees the scheme, with monitoring by District Employment Officers.
- Repay the loan in 60 equal monthly installments.
- Failure to repay three consecutive installments may lead to reminders and potential revenue recovery actions.
Additional Information:
- For ventures requiring more than ₹50,000, you must contribute 10% of the additional amount and will incur a 3% flat-rate interest on the excess sum.
- Successful ventures that have repaid at least 50% of the loan may be eligible for additional loans up to 80% of the original amount at nominal interest rates for expansion purposes.
For further details, visit the official website: employment.kerala.gov.in.