(a) the salient features of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) hub scheme being implemented to provide professional support to the SC/ST entrepreneurs in the MSME sector in the country;
(b) the details of the funds allocated/ released, the target set and criteria adopted for sanction of loan under the said scheme during the current year; and
(c) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government for promotion of SC/ ST entrepreneurs in the country?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF
MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
(SHRI HARIBHAI PARATHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)
(a)&(b). The Ministry of MSME has approved a scheme for setting up of National Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes (SC/ST) Hub on 25.07.2016. Hon’ble Prime Minister launched the national SC/ST Hub on 18.10.2016 at Ludhiana, Punjab. The Hub is set up to provide professional support to SC/ST entrepreneurs to fulfill the obligations under the Central Government Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises Order 2012, adopt applicable business practices and leverage the Stand up India initiatives. The functions of Hub include collection, collation and dissemination of information regarding SC/ST enterprises and entrepreneurs, capacity building among existing and prospective SC/ST entrepreneurs through skill training and EDPs, vendor development involving CPSEs, NSIC, MSME-DIs and industry associations including Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DICCI), promoting participation of SC/ST entrepreneurs in exhibitions and organizing special exhibitions for this purpose, facilitating SC/ST entrepreneurs participating in public procurement and monitoring the progress, etc.
Four Schemes have approved under National SC/ST Hub namely (a) subsidy for SC/ST enterprises to obtain Single Point Registration Scheme (b) Special Marketing Assistance Scheme (SMAS) to provide marketing support to SC/ST owned MSMEs (c) Special Subsidy under Performance & Credit Rating Scheme (SPCRS) for SC/ST enterprises and (d) Special Credit Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme. The total budget for the National SC/ST Hub scheme is proposed to be Rs. 490 crore for period from 2016-17 to 2019-20. An amount of Rs.20.00 crore has been provided for the scheme in RE for the year 2016-17.
(c): This Ministry is implementing a number of schemes for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) including National Manufacturing Competitiveness Programme(NMCP), Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme(PMEGP), schemes for Khadi & Village Industries and Coir, International Cooperation Scheme, Performance and Credit Rating Scheme(PCRS), Marketing Assistance and Technology Upgradation(MATU) schemes, Scheme for Credit Guarantee Fund for Micro and Small Enterprises etc. Benefits under these schemes are available to all eligible MSMEs including those belonging to SC and ST communities.
In addition to the schemes implemented by this Ministry, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is also implementing schemes for SC entrepreneurs including the Credit Enhancement Guarantee Scheme for Scheduled Castes(CEGSSC) and Venture Capital Fund scheme for micro, small and medium entrepreneurs. Ministry of Tribal Affairs is also implementing schemes for self-employment of Scheduled Tribes including term loan scheme and micro credit scheme for self help groups.