Fin min launches KSFE schemes

Thiruvananthapuram: Finance minister T M Thomas Isaac here on Tuesday announced the details of two schemes being rolled out by Kerala State Financial Enterprises as part of contributing towards bridging the digital divide among students urgently as online classrooms have become the new normal for education.
Unveiling the schemes, which were earlier announced by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Isaac said KSFE would fund local bodies 75% of expenses for setting up online study classes for weaker sections. Also, KSFE would join hands with Kudumbashree for a micro-finance scheme to fund students for purchasing laptops. KSFE would contribute 75% of the expenses for setting up study centres, provided the respective local bodies are willing to spend the remaining 25%. After purchasing the necessary items, including TV, local bodies should submit utility certificate to KSFE. Once local bodies identify a public place for setting up the online study facility and identify beneficiary students, KSFE would issue the cheque in two or three days, the minister said.
KSFE would fund Kudumbashree to microfinance students to purchase laptops for Rs 15,000 from companies empanelled by IT department. Loanees should repay in 30 instalments of Rs 500 per month. Three months into the scheme, the members would get Rs 14,250 for the purchase of laptops. Those who repay instalments on time, KSFE would pay their last three instalments.
Apart from local bodies, other agencies are also free to set up such common facility centres. The minister handed over to Mathsyafed the financial help for setting up such centres for students in coastal areas.