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GANDHINAGAR: In an attempt to pre-empt further quota unrests ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Gujarat government announced a slew of welfare schemes on Friday for castes in the unreserved category wherein loans will be offered at a low interest rate of 4% for practically all expenses incurred on education and self-employment.

This includes coaching for competitive exams like JEE, NEET and UPSC, fees for medical, engineering and other technical courses offered in self-financed colleges, foreign education, and even investment capital for setting up small businesses. Unveiling the schemes, deputy CM Nitin Patel said the programmes will be implemented by the newly formed Gujarat Unreserved Educational & Economical Development Corporation.

The government had allocated Rs 542 crore in the current budget for the corporation. “The benefits will be extended to economically backward citizens belonging to the general category who do not get any kind of reservation benefits,” he said.

Interestingly, the schemes have been announced days ahead of quota warrior Hardik Patel ’s indefinite fast on August 25.

The schemes, aimed at aiding meritorious students from lower middle class families in the general category, are pegged to counter Hardik’s premise for a quota for Patidars citing how the poor among the upper castes are deprived of expensive higher education and employment opportunities due to rising costs.

