BANGALORE: In a move that is widely being seen as an apparent appeasement of Christians, the state Cabinet on Thursday approved a special grant of Rs 50 crore for the welfare of the community.Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa in this year's budget had set aside Rs 50 crore for the development of Christian community. Of this fund, Rs 35 crore would be spent on building community halls and Rs 15 crore on the renovation of dilapidated churches, said Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Suresh Kumar immediately after the Cabinet meeting.A committee headed by Minorities Welfare and Wakf Minister Mumtaz Ali Khan in consultation with Christian leaders will identify the works to be taken up with the special funds.Part of the money will also be used for extending merit scholarships, educational loans, microcredit schemes and skill development programmes for the poor people of the community, Kumar added.In a similar move, the Cabinet also approved an interest waiver and onetime settlement scheme for the poor who have borrowed housing loans under various schemes of the state and Central governments."We have decided to waive the interest of all those who are in possession of the houses till March 31, 2011, and pay the outstanding principal amount before March 31, 2012," Suresh Kumar said.There is about Rs 2,590 crore outstanding dues from 22 lakh beneficiaries, of which Rs 1,100 crore is interest component, he added.
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