Saranya - Self Employment Scheme for Women in Kerala

The Saranya scheme is a pivotal self-employment initiative by the Kerala Government, designed to empower marginalized women including widows, divorced women, deserted women, spinsters over the age of 30, and unmarried mothers from the Scheduled Tribe community. This program provides an interest-free loan of up to Rs. 50,000 to support women in launching self-employment ventures.

Under the Saranya scheme, 50% of the loans are reimbursed as a government subsidy, with a maximum subsidy of Rs. 25,000 provided through the Kerala Employment Department. The loan repayment is structured in 60 monthly installments. If the business venture requires more than Rs. 50,000, the applicant must contribute 10% of the excess amount, in addition to paying a 3% flat interest rate on the amount exceeding Rs. 50,000.

The scheme supports both individual and joint ventures, allowing each participant in a joint venture to avail of the maximum loan and subsidy benefits.

Eligibility for the Saranya Scheme

The Saranya scheme is available to unemployed widows, divorced and deserted women, spinsters above 30, and unmarried mothers of Scheduled Tribes registered with Kerala Employment Exchanges. The age limit is set between 18 and 55, except for spinsters.

Eligibility Criteria for Widows

Widows who have not remarried can apply, provided they submit a certificate from the Village Officer, Grama Panchayath President, Municipality Chairman, or Corporation Mayor.

Criteria for Divorced Women

Divorced women must provide proof of their divorce via court or religious institution and a certificate from the village officer confirming they have not remarried.

Eligibility for Deserted Women

Women deserted by their husbands or those whose husbands are missing for at least seven years are eligible, with a certificate from the Tahsildar verifying their status and confirming they have not remarried.

Spinsters

The scheme is inclusive of spinsters over 30 years old as of April 1 of the application year, who must obtain certification from the Village Officer confirming their unmarried status.

Unmarried Mothers

For unmarried mothers from the Scheduled Tribe category, eligibility requires a certificate confirming caste, community, and an annual family income not exceeding Rs. 1,00,000. Preference is given to those with professional or technical qualifications. Further assistance for entrepreneurial skills can be explored through the Financial Assistance for Skill Entrepreneurial Development program.

Application Process for the Saranya Loan

Applicants can download the application form from the official website or collect it at their respective Employment Exchange. Alongside the form, submit a detailed project report and income certificate. Primary verification occurs at the Employment Exchange, examining accuracy in the application, income, community certificate, and marital status certificates.

After submission, the Town Employment Exchange forwards applications to the respective District Employment Exchange. Learn about other contextual self-employment schemes by visiting the self-employment schemes page.

Processing and Sanctioning of Applications

The District Employment Officer reviews and submits applications to the District Committee chaired by the District Collector. Upon loan sanction, the Employment Department directly transfers the loan amount via demand draft to the applicant's bank account. Beneficiaries qualify only for regular vacancies, not temporary ones.

For broader opportunities in financing and self-employment strategies, consider exploring related initiatives like the CM Self Employment Scheme (CMEGP) and KESRU - Kerala Self Employment Scheme.

Monitoring and Compliance

The Director of Employment oversees the scheme with assistance from the District Employment Officers and Town Employment Exchange Officers. The scheme initiates revenue recovery if beneficiaries fail to make repayments for three consecutive installments following two reminders. Misallocation of funds triggers full recovery, including the subsidy.

Explore government schemes for MSMEs for additional opportunities in obtaining financial support to ensure a successful venture.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Saranya Self Employment Scheme for Women in Kerala.

The Saranya Scheme is a self-employment scheme for women in Kerala, India, aimed at uplifting backward and segregated women like widows, divorced women, deserted women, spinsters above the age of 30, and unwedded mothers of Scheduled Tribes. Under this scheme, an interest-free bank loan of up to Rs. 50,000 is provided for commencing self-employment ventures.

Unemployed widows, divorced women, deserted women, spinsters above the age of 30, and unwedded mothers of Scheduled Tribes registered with the Kerala Employment Exchanges between the age limit of 18 to 55 (except for spinsters, for whom there is no age limit) are eligible for the Saranya Scheme.

Under the Saranya Scheme, 50% of the loan amount, up to a maximum of Rs. 25,000, is reimbursed as a government subsidy through the Employment Department. The remaining loan amount must be repaid in 60 equal monthly installments.

Yes, if a venture requires an amount exceeding Rs. 50,000, the applicant must remit a 10% beneficiary contribution. Additionally, they must pay a flat 3% interest rate on the amount availed in excess of Rs. 50,000.

Yes, the Saranya Scheme allows for joint ventures with more than one entrepreneur. In such cases, each person in the joint venture would receive the maximum loan amount and subsidy.

Application forms for the Saranya Scheme can be downloaded from the website or obtained physically from the Employment Exchange where the candidate is registered. The completed form, along with a detailed project report and income certificate from the village officer, must be submitted.

After the initial verification at the Employment Exchange, the District Employment Officer submits scrutinized applications to the District Committee for sanctioning loans. The District Committee, chaired by the District Collector and convened by the District Employment Officer, is the sanctioning authority.

Upon loan sanction, a demand draft for the approved loan amount is directly sent to the beneficiary's bank account from the Employment Department.

If a beneficiary fails to repay for three consecutive installments, two reminders are sent. If there is no response, a revenue recovery action to recover the loan amount with interest is initiated. Additionally, if the loan amount is found to be utilized for purposes other than the sanctioned project, the full amount, including the subsidy, is recovered through revenue recovery procedures.

No, beneficiaries of the Saranya Self-Employment Scheme are exempted from providing any security for the loan amount.