- Ghazipur food entrepreneurs eligible for ODOP financial assistance.
- Scheme offers up to Rs 50 lakh subsidy for various projects.
- Online applications opening soon for eligible businesses and individuals.
Jagran Correspondent, Ghazipur: Entrepreneurs engaged in the production of chilli pickle, matar (pea) chaat, sweets such as rasgulla and jalebi, will soon be able to apply for financial assistance under the One District One Product (ODOP) Financing Assistance Scheme. Under this scheme, beneficiaries will receive a margin money subsidy based on the approved project cost.
Big Boost For Food Entrepreneurs
Ghazipur Deputy Commissioner (Industries) Lokendra Kumar stated that the products selected for the district are chili pickle, matar chaat, rasgulla, and jalebi. Also, hotels, restaurants, dhabas, sweet shops, manufacturing units, and new entrepreneurs associated with these products can avail the benefits of the scheme.
How To Apply?
Applications will be accepted online via the departmental portal. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age. No specific educational qualification is required to avail this scheme. The applicant must not have previously availed the benefits of any other self-employment scheme run by the Central or State government. Under the scheme, only one member from a family will be eligible to receive the benefit.
Applicants must submit an affidavit along with their application. Those applying under the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Class (OBC), minority, women, persons with disabilities, or transgender categories will also be required to provide a valid certificate issued by the competent authority.
Financial Assistance Under ODOP Scheme
Under the scheme, applicants will receive margin money assistance based on the cost of their project. Projects worth up to Rs 25 lakh will be eligible for a subsidy of 25 per cent, subject to a maximum of Rs 6.25 lakh. Projects costing between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 50 lakh will receive 10 per cent assistance, capped at Rs 6.25 lakh. For projects valued between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1.5 crore, the subsidy will be 20 per cent, up to a maximum of Rs 10 lakh. Meanwhile, projects costing more than Rs 1.5 crore will be eligible for 10 per cent assistance, with a maximum margin money grant of Rs 50 lakh.
Beneficiaries from the general category must deposit 10 per cent of the project cost as their own contribution, while those from the special category must deposit five per cent. After two years of successful operation of the enterprise, the margin money will be adjusted against the bank loan as a subsidy.