Rs 50cr paid out under Bengal student credit card scheme

Kolkata:

Bengal

on Friday crossed a milestone as it disbursed Rs 50 crore under the

student credit card

scheme to over 1,300 boys and girls. So far, over 1 lakh students have applied.

After being elected for the third time, the

Mamata

Banerjee government rolled out the scheme, which was part of the Trinamool’s poll promises. Students of Class X and above can apply for a loan using the credit card and the state stands guarantor for them.

On Thursday, Bengal had pulled off another feat by crossing the 1-crore mark in direct benefit transfers under the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. Chief secretary H K Dwivedi asked district magistrates to arrange for quick disbursement of funds to the remaining beneficiaries.

Initially, 1.8 crore women had enrolled for the aid, but a section was found ineligible because Aadhaar/Swasthya Sathi cards were not submitted. The state on Friday issued a missive that stated a verifier would enquire whether an applicant was eligible for Swasthya Sathi card/Aadhaar card/SC-ST certificate. “If the applicant is eligible, the verifier will recommend her Lakshmir Bhandar application for approval,” it said.