Education loan scheme a top priority for UPA: Chidambaram

Education loans are one of the highest priorities of the UPA government, which is committed to making it an even greater success, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has said. The Government is also confident of achieving the target of allocating 15 per cent of all bank loans to minorities, Chidambaram told Lok Sabha during question hour. Chidambaram reeled out statistics to show how education loans have been a success. 

In a span of three years, the banking system’s education loan portfolio has grown to Rs 52,480 crore. As many as 24.62 lakh accounts have been opened so far towards education loans. On loans to minorities, Chidambaram said that banks have already achieved a level of 14.8 percent and that it should be easy to achieve the 15 per cent target.

Srivats.kr@thehindu.co.in