SBI, UBI loans for PLHIVs (persons living with HIVs)
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 25 2012: State Bank of India (SBI) and United Bank of India (UBI) have chalked out plans to provide loans to persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIVs) of the State.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an RBI outreach programme at Achanbigei held today, UBI Chief Manager (Link office Imphal) Samuel Pan said, officials of SBI and UBI have discussed the matter with the Imphal East Deputy Commissioner a few days back in the presence of key RBI officials.

He said, "Ours is a pilot project and we will give the loans after examining the health status of the patients by doctors.

We are yet to decide how much amount we are going to give.

Everything would be sorted out very soon to ensure the infected persons get the loan amount and start any trade to earn money" .

Samuel Pan added that two such proposals came from two women PLHIVs to UBI through Imphal East DC.

The duo applied for taking up grocery and a handloom weaving sheds at their respective places, he said.

He further said, "If our pilot project goes successfully, we will expand it in a systematic manner enough to give support to PLHIVs in a big way" .

On the latest initiative of the two nationalised banks, Manipur Network for Positive People (MNP+) president L Deepak said, "We are so grateful to the two nationalized banks for taking up the humanitarian steps for the cause of the PLHIVs.

With such great help, the PLHIVs, most of whom belong to poor families, will definitely have the hope to live in dignity" .

Deepak added, since most of the PLHIVs are having vocational expertise, they would take up different small scale trades through the loan amount and augment their livelihood.

It may be mentioned that Manipur is one of the six States of the country having high prevalence of HIV/AIDS.

According to Manipur AIDS Control Society (MACS), the State has a total of around 38,016 infected persons including 10,109 women and 2,578 children.

RBI Executive Director R Gandhi, while addressing outreach programme announced that an RBI branch would be opened in Imphal for which the State Government has already been discussed.

Since a decision had been taken to open an RBI branch each in all the Northeast States, a branch was opened in Agartala last year after Guwahati, he said adding that very shortly another branch would be opened in Shillong.

He said 14 new bank branches would also be opened in Manipur within the next financial year.

Gandhi advised the villagers to avail the services offered by banks for taking up economic activities and be a part of the banking system by opening bank accounts.

Gandhi warned the public not to be lured by the high rates of interests on deposits offered by unauthorized bodies through fictitious e-mail messages, etc.

As a part of the programme Gandhi along with RBI's Regional Director Surekha Marandi also interacted with school children and members of SHGs and farmers' clubs.

Various stalls were also opened by different banks in it.

Comment