Parshuram board starts issuing soft loans to Brahmin beneficiaries

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The Parshuram Economic Development Corporation, a govt welfare board formed for the weaker sections in the Brahmin community, has started issuing soft loans to target beneficiaries, the corporation's chairman Ashish Damle said.Damle said the application process has been formally launched for issuing personal loan and group loan."The main objective of these schemes is to provide capital assistance to the beneficiaries who are willing to achieve financial self-reliance. It will be an important opportunity for the eligible individuals and groups in the state," he said.Damle said the soft loans boost the creation of self-employment, small-scale industries, and income-generating opportunities.Applications for the loan schemes are available at the corporation office at Council Hall in Pune and on the official website of the Parshuram Economic Development Corporation (PEDC).A dedicated welfare board in the form of PEDC was announced by state govt in Oct 2024. It got an office at Pune in May 2025. In Aug, state govt appointed six senior officials as directors of the PEDC with the aim to offer momentum to its functioning.Nilesh Kulkarni, a member of the Brahmin community, said the PEDC should receive substantial funding in the upcoming state budget. "The other caste-specific welfare boards receive profuse funding from govt. The same logic should be applied while giving financial aid to the welfare board for us. If left fund-starved, the corporation will remain on paper only," he said.