(a) whether the Government proposes to establish a network to create business model for the various products and services to empower women and to increase their entrepreneurship skill in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the details of the assistance the Government proposes to provide through this network; and
(c) the details of the schemes the Government proposes to implement in this regards?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE)
FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
(SHRI GIRIRAJ SINGH)
(a)to(c): Yes, Madam. The Government, through Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), has launched a portal namely “Udyam Sakhi” for encouraging women entrepreneurs and to aid, counsel, assist and protect their interests. Udyam Sakhi network is a platform for emerging Women Entrepreneurs of India to get support, to understand current scenario of industries and to get guidance in various aspects of entrepreneurship. It helps Indian women to start, build and grow businesses and creating business models revolving around low-cost products and services to resolve social inequities.
In addition to the above, the Ministry of MSME is empowering women entrepreneurship through the following schemes:
Coir Board is implementing the Skill Upgradation & Mahila Coir Yojana (MCY) under which programmes like Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP), Awareness Programme, Workshop, Seminar, Exposure Tour, etc. for attracting more women entrepreneurs to set up coir industrial units are covered. The financial assistance for procurement of equipments/machineries may be obtained under the PMEGP scheme by the trained women for setting up coir units or start coir clusters under Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries (SFURTI). Priority will be given to the trained women under PMEGP.
Under the ‘Mahila Coir Yojana’ scheme, which is exclusively for rural women artisans, training in spinning of coir yarn/various coir processing activities is imparted to rural women in regions producing coir fibre in the country. The scheme envisages distribution of motorized ratts/motorized traditional ratts and other coir processing equipments at 75% subsidy subject to a maximum of Rs.7500/- which can be operated by women after completion of a two months’ training programme. During the training period, the women artisans are given stipend amounting Rs. 1000/- per month.
Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) is implementing Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP), a major credit-linked subsidy scheme since 2008-09, to promote and set up micro, small and medium enterprises and to generate employment in rural and urban areas of the country. The maximum cost of the project under PMEGP scheme is Rs.25.00 lakhs for manufacturing sector units and Rs.10.00 lakhs for units under service sector. Under the scheme the women entrepreneurs are provided 25% and 35% subsidies for the project set up in urban and rural areas respectively. For women beneficiaries, own contribution is only 5% of the project cost while for general category it is 10%. All the entrepreneurs including women are eligible for 2 weeks EDP after the sanction of their projects from banks for financial assistance to setup their unit. During 2016-17 and 2017-18, State/UT-wise number of projects set up by women entrepreneurs and margin money subsidy provided is placed at Annexure-I.
The entrepreneurs including women entrepreneurs can sell their products through 8058 sales outlets run by Khadi Institutions including 7 departmental outlets of KVIC located at Mumbai, Kolkata, Ernakulum, Bhopal, Goa, Patna and Delhi.
KVIC is also imparting training for skill development through 38 Departmental and Non-Departmental Training Centres under various disciplines. During 2017-18, a total of 35955 number of women candidates were trained.
Under the Entrepreneurship Development Programme-EDPs (IMC/EDP/ESDP/MDP) Scheme, there is a provision of conducting 20% of EDP/ESDP programmes for weaker sections (ST/SC/Women/PH.) of the society. There is no fee charged from participants of such programmes. Besides, a stipend of Rs. 125/- per week per candidate is given.
Under Domestic Fairs/Exhibition component of Marketing Assistance and Technology Upgradation (MATU) scheme, 100% of the space rent is paid for SC/ST/Women/ NER/PH category MSE units limited to Rs.20,000/- (Rs.50,000/- in case of technology trade fair/exhibition) or actual, whichever is less. Under International Trade Fairs/Exhibition component of MATU scheme, 100% of the space rent is paid for SC/ST/Women/NER MSE units subject to maximum Rs.1.00 lakh or actual rent, whichever is less.