Daijiworld Media Network - South Goa

South Goa, Jun 25: Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Thursday interacted with beneficiaries of the National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) during a special outreach programme held in South Goa.

Addressing the gathering, Rijiju reiterated the Ministry of Minority Affairs’ commitment towards the welfare and empowerment of minority communities through need-based, inclusive and non-discriminatory schemes.

He said NMDFC programmes are aimed at promoting skill development, entrepreneurship and financial inclusion, with special emphasis on empowering youth and women.

Highlighting Goa’s economic profile, the Minister said the state has a high per capita income driven largely by tourism, hospitality, fishing and earlier mining activities. However, he noted that funds allocated for minority welfare remain underutilised and stressed the need for more effective measures to promote entrepreneurship among women and young people.

Rijiju also highlighted India’s multicultural identity and stressed the importance of maintaining harmony among different religious communities. He called for collective efforts to counter misinformation and fake news in the era of social media.

During the interaction, beneficiaries raised several concerns, including inadequate loan amounts for business expansion, difficulties in arranging guarantors and lengthy documentation procedures.

Representatives from the fishing sector sought increased financial assistance, while organic business entrepreneurs requested easier access to credit facilities.

Assuring participants that their concerns would be considered for policy improvements, Rijiju announced plans to organise events in Goa to support local artisans by providing funding opportunities and marketing platforms.

He said such initiatives would help strengthen entrepreneurship and improve economic opportunities among communities.