PUDUCHERRY: In consultation with the Planning Commission, the government will work out a scheme to train technically qualified graduates and diploma holders to tackle unemployment, Chief Minister N Rangasmay announced on Sunday. It is planned to be implemented during 2012-2013. Rangasamy made this announcement while addressing a meeting of Chief Ministers of south zone states/union territories and chief executive officers of public sector banks in Bangalore. The meet was convened by Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.“Puducherry has been witnessing an increase in unemployment over the last couple of years, which needs to be tackled. Technically qualified graduates and diploma holders need to be trained in the productive process by identifying activities suited to their skills,” the CM said.He requested public sector banks to come forward to finance the proposed programme.Step up CDRReasoning that a low Credit-Deposit Ratio (CDR)— the ratio of loan or assets created by banks from the deposits they receive— affects economic development, Rangasamy emphasized the need to step up the CDR.Citing the agenda papers circulated by the Department of Financial Services, Government of India, he said that the average CDR of all public sector banks put together is 75 per cent, which is 15 per cent more than the bench mark CDR of 60 per cent. In Puducherry, the CDR is 56 per cent.He requested the FM to advise banks to increase CDR by an additional 10 per cent in the UT, by advancing the required percentage under minorities, the weaker sections, scheduled castes and the Differential Rate of Interest (DRI) scheme.“Besides, banks may come forward to lend more under the fisheries sector, wherein infrastructure facilities need to be augmented further in the UT,” he added.100 per cent CoverThe CM requested banks to ensure 100 per cent coverage to farmers under the Kisan Credit Card scheme so that they can avail of bank credit at reasonable rates for agricultural purposes.“Though adequate credit allocation is made towards agriculture and allied activities, maximum flow should be ensured towards creation of durable assets through lending more term loans.”“The interest subvention scheme, which provides short term crop loans at 4 per cent interest, needs to cover all farmers (with a sound credit history) on a year-to-year basis. Further, farmers, who are outside the ambit of banks, need to be brought under this scheme.”Calling the attention of the FM to the 100 per cent tuition fee waiver for students selected to pursue professional courses, he said that the government could cover only around half of the beneficiaries. He urged banks them to lend liberally to students through simplified educational loans.
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