SHILLONG, Nov 9: The state government has decided to increase the guarantee amount to Rs 4 crore to ensure more physically challenged can take necessary loans for different livelihood programmes.

Speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma said, “…the government will now guarantee Rs 4 crores in favour of the National Handicap Finance Development Corporation.”

He said this is basically a fund that gives loans to the different physically challenged individuals and this requires the government to guarantee the loans.

“Earlier, the limit was at Rs 1 crore. However, in the interest of ensuring that our citizens who are physically challenged will be able to also get the help of this loan and hence we have decided to increase the guarantee amount to Rs 4 crores, so that more of our citizens who are physically challenged can get the benefit and take the necessary loans for the different programs for livelihood that they may want to do,” Sangma added.