<P> (vi) Housing loans: Loans up to Rs. 28 lakh in metropolitan cities where population is above 10 lakh and Rs. 20 Lakh at other center s for construction / purchase of a dwelling unit per family provided total cost of the unit in metropolitan centres and at other centres does not exceed Rs. 35 Lacs and Rs. 25 Lacs respectively . (excluding loans granted by banks to their own employees) and loans given for repairs to the damaged houses of individuals up to Rs. 5 lakh in metropolitan centres and Rs. 2 Lakh at other centres . </P> <P> (2) Investments by banks in securitised assets, representing loans to agriculture (direct or indirect), small scale industries (direct or indirect) and housing, shall be eligible for classification under respective categories of priority sector (direct or indirect) depending on the underlying assets, provided the securitised assets are originated by banks and financial institutions and fulfill the Reserve Bank of India guidelines on securitisation. (3) Under Weaker Sections: Priority sector loans to the following borrowers are considered under Weaker Sections category: - </P> <P> (a) Small and marginal farmers; </P> <P> (b) Artisans, village and cottage industries where individual credit limits do not exceed ` 50,000; </P>

Priority sector lending by banks in india constitutes the leading to