Kanpur: Carpenter unable to get loan sanctioned under PM Employment Generation programme despite Modi's recommendations

A carpenter in Kanpur claims to be running from pillar to post to get a loan sanctioned under Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) in spite of the Prime Minister's personal recommendations.

Sandip Soni, a resident of Barra area in Kanpur, claims it took him three-and-a-half years to inscribe all the 18 episodes and 706 shlokas of Bhagavad Gita on 32 wooden sheets. He claims on March 8, he had shown his work to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had not only praised it but also uploaded his photo with Sandip on Twitter.

Sandeep Soni presented to me a copy of the Gita, carved on wood. I thank him for his kind gesture. pic.twitter.com/mbFKR0cEKP

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 8, 2016

The Prime Minister had also assured to help Sandip who told him of his wish to start a factory where he would train unemployed youth in the craft, claims the carpenter. Subsequently, he met an official at the Prime Minister's Office who explained the procedure of obtaining loans under PMEGP. Five days later, he got a call from a National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) official in Kanpur who asked him to prepare a project report.

On July 14, the bank sanctioned a loan of Rs 25 lakh to him but there was no mention of PMEGP on the document. As a result, NSIC officials refused to grant him the subsidy, claims Sandip. When contacted, NSIC officials said the bank was the authority concerned. Bank officials said they were looking into the matter.