Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala government's Smart Kitchen project, meant to ease the burden of domestic chores of housewives, is likely to be rolled out before Onam. The Budget has set aside Rs 5 crore for the first phase of the plan. 

The project, to be implemented jointly with Kerala State Financial Enterprises (KSFE), will provide interest-free loans to homemakers for purchasing home appliances. 

The government will pay KSFE the interest as a subsidy. A panel comprising Chief Secretary, and secretaries of Local Self Government and Women and Child Welfare departments have been assigned to draw up a final plan for the project, Finance Minister K N Balagopal told Manorama.

Features and terms

• Interest free

• No collateral requirement for loan

• Only the loan amount has to be repaid

• Loan to be sanctioned within 48 hours of receiving the application

• Kitchen appliances costing Rs 2,000 onwards could be bought. A price ceiling will be decided soon

• Repayment tenure will be between one year and five years

• Bank account mandatory for housewives

Procedure

• A quotation from the home appliances showroom, detailing the equipment planned to be purchased and price should be submitted to the nearest KSFE branch.

• KSFE will compare it with the price it has fixed. A cheque for the loan amount will be issued to the showroom selling the appliances. 

• Housewives can receive the appliances directly from the showroom.