Delhi: Spiritual Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar on Tuesday lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'contribution in the international arena' and called it 'remarkable'.


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Sri Sri tweeted: "PM Modi's contribution in the international arena is remarkable. His vision and passion to uplift every section of society should be emulated."



Meanwhile, underlining that financial inclusion is the government's core focus, PM Modi today said banks have given loans worth Rs 50,000 crore to small entrepreneurs under the MUDRA Yojana.


Addressing dalit entrepreneurs here, he said: "80,000 borrowers have benefited from the scheme under which more than Rs 50,000 crore worth of loans have been given primarily to SC, ST, OBCs and women entrepreneurs who are engaged in small business and provide jobs to about 14 crore persons," as per PTI.


Speaking at the National Conference of SC/ST Entrepreneurs on B R Ambedkar's ideas and thoughts on industrialisation and entrepreneurship, PM Modi said it was quite difficult earlier for SC/ST entrepreneurs to get loans from banks.


Under Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY), loans between Rs 50,000 and Rs 10 lakh are provided to small entrepreneurs as an initiative to fund the unfunded.


To support businesses of SC/ST, the government has created Rs 200 crore venture capital fund with IFCI as the nodal agency.


It has so far given loan worth Rs 144 crore to 28 businesses belonging to the SC/ST community. "Our government is your government. We are working for your empowerment," he said.


(With Agency inputs)