KDCC bank raises loan limit for Ladki Bahin beneficiaries to Rs 50,000

Kolhapur: The Kolhapur District Central Cooperative Bank (KDCC) has raised the loan limit for Ladki Bahin beneficiaries from Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 to help eligible women start new businesses or expand existing ones.Maharashtra govt is implementing the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, under which eligible women receive Rs 1,500 per month as financial assistance.KDCC Bank was the first, and remains one of the few, financial institutions to launch a dedicated loan scheme for Ladki Bahin beneficiaries, providing them a lumpsum amount for productive investment. Under the Tararani Mahila Sakshamikaran Yojana, launched in April 2025, the bank has so far extended loans to 16,775 beneficiaries, with a total disbursement of Rs 50.33 crore within the first year.Earlier, Rs 968 was deducted every month from the Rs 1,500 assistance towards loan repayment. "We have now decided to increase the loan amount to Rs 50,000, for which Rs 1,268 will be deducted from the Ladki Bahin monthly installment towards repayment over the next three years. The interest rate charged on the loan will be 10%," minister Hasan Mushrif, the bank chairman, said.Officials said the interest rate offered to Ladki Bahin beneficiaries was lower than the rates charged by most banks on personal loans. The bank has also announced that if five to ten beneficiaries jointly apply for a loan to start a business, insurance cover will be provided for their venture. "In the first year, most Ladki Bahin beneficiaries utilised the loan amount to purchase small machinery like sewing machines and papad-making units to either start or expand their businesses. Women are also avoiding private moneylenders, who not only charge high interest rates but also harass borrowers during recovery," said a senior bank official.