Dumka: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched the Mudra scheme in Dumka under which people can take loans up to Rs 10 lakh to start businesses.


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"The Mudra scheme is one step forward to accelerate development in the country. Till now, 42 lakh people have taken benefits under the Mudra scheme and loans of Rs 26,000 crore have been given," Modi said while launching the scheme in the state.


"Of these 42 lakh people, 20 lakh are women. This is the best example of empowerment of women, who will become a part of the development," he said, pointing out that interest would have to be paid on the amount withdrawn through the debit card and not on the entire loan amount.


The Pradhan Mantri MUDRA (Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency) Yojana was launched in April to help small entrepreneurs. In Jharkhand, around one lakh people have been given loans under the Mudra scheme.


Modi also criticised political rivals who talked about poor people. "Politics has been done in the last 60 years in the name of the poor but no one thought about mothers cooking food by burning fuelwood. We have till now given LPG cylinders to 18 lakh poor people. On my appeal, 31 lakh people have given up LPG cylinder subsidies," the prime minister added.


"Today is the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and he will be happy if forests are saved by not cutting trees for fuelwood to cook food," Modi said.


The prime minister also launched the renovation of a series of Maluti temples in Dumka district of Jharkhand. "By renovation and conservation of the Maluti temples, tourism will be developed in the Santhal region that will generate jobs for the youth," he said.