Chandigarh, July 15– In Haryana, 1500 cobblers (Mochis) will be given interest free loan of Rs 50,000 each. Interest on loan will be borne by the State Government, which will be about Rs 60 lakh annually.

The Finance Minister, Capt. Abhimanyu said that the Finance Department has approved the scheme on the directions of the Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal.

Capt. Abhimanyu said that under this scheme, the National Scheduled Caste Finance and Development Corporation will provide loan of Rs 50,000 each to selected persons in the state to establish their 'khokhas', which they will have to return in three years. This loan will be given to only those cobblers, whose annual income is less than Rs three lakh annually, has not taken benefit of such a scheme previously and who is not defaulter in case of loan.

He said that the Central and the State Governments are working for the welfare and upliftment of every section. The present State Government under the leadership of Chief Minister, Mr. Manohar Lal has worked for the betterment of two-and-a-half crore population in the state in one way or the other.