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Q.1 What is the objective of National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation? |
| Ans. The National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC) is set up with the objective to economically empower the persons with disabilities in the country. |
| Q.2 Who are eligible to take loan? |
| Ans. Any Indian Citizen with minimum 40% or more disability, age between 18 and 60 years, annual income below Rs. 2,00,000/- (Rupees One Lakh only) p.a. for urban areas and Rs. 160,000/- (Rupees Eighty Thousand only) p.a for rural areas, with relevant educational/ technical/ vocational qualification/ experience and background. |
| Q.3 What are the schemes of financing and maximum amount of loan? |
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Ans. The schemes of NHFDC are as follows:
| i) |
For setting up small business in Service/Trading sector: Loan up to Rs. 3.00 lakh (For transport activity -loan upto Rs. 5.00 1akh) |
| ii) |
For setting up small industrial unit: Loan upto Rs. 5.00 lakh |
| iii) |
Loan for Education/Training to Disabled Persons: Loan upto Rs. 7.50 1akh for studies within India and Rs. 15.00 lakh for studies abroad. |
| iv) |
For Agricultural activities: Loan upto Rs. 5.00 lakh |
| v) |
For self-employment amongst persons with mental retardation, cerebral palsy and autism: Loan upto Rs. 3.00 lakh |
| vi) |
Financial Assistance for Skills & Entrepreneurial Development |
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| Q.4 What is the rate of interest? |
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Ans. The rate of interest is as follows:
| i) |
Up to Rs. 50,000/- |
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5 % |
| ii) |
Above Rs. 50,000/- and upto Rs. 5.0 lakh |
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6% |
| iii) |
Above Rs. 5.0 lakh (loan for education/training) |
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8% | |
| Q.5 What is the maximum repayment period for loan and if there is any subsidy on loan ? |
| Ans. Maximum repayment period is 10 years and NHFDC is not providing any subsidy, however a rebate of 1% on interest is given to disabled women. |
| Q.6 If an applicant is residing at a particular place, can he/she start his project activity from another state? |
| Ans. The beneficiary should be resident at the place of his/her activity. |
| Q.7 If an applicant is mentally retarded person, can he/she avail loans from NHFDC? |
| Ans. In such cases, the financial assistance is extended through parents or spouse or legal guardian of the dependant mentally disabled person. |
| Q.8 Can the applicant avail loan from NHFDC directly or what is the procedure to submit his/her application for loan? |
Ans. Applications on prescribed format to be submitted through the State Channelising Agency. Projects upto Rs. 1.5 lakh are sanctioned by State Channelising Agency /Bank and applications for loan more than Rs. 1.5 lakh is sanctioned by NHFDC.
Projects may also be submitted through the branches of Punjab & Sind Bank or Oriental Bank of Commerce who have entered into a collaborative arrangements with NHFDC for implementation of the schemes of NHFDC. |
| Q.9 What are activities, for which loan is available? |
| Ans. Practically for any type of economically viable income generating activity, loan from NHFDC is considered. |
| Q.10 What is the scheme for Non Government Organisations (NGOs) ? |
Ans. The schemes for NGO are as under:
| a) |
Micro Financing Scheme implemented through NGO - Loan upto Rs. 5.00 lakh. |
| b) |
Mahila Samridhi Yojna implemented through NGO - Loan upto Rs. 5.00 lakh for NGO, upto Rs. 25,000/- per women beneficiary. |
| c) |
Parents' Association for the mentally retarded persons - Loan Rs. 5.00 lakh. |
The Micro Financing Scheme is also implemented through State Channelising Agencies of NHFDC. |