(a) whether the Government has formulated any scheme for providing incentives to women
entrepreneurs;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the project undertaken/implemented under the said schemes during each of the last three years in various States, State and Union Territory-wise; and
(d) the details of financial assistance granted to each State and Union Territory by the Government during the above period?
MINISTER OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
(SHRI MAHABIR PRASAD)
(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. Besides the state governments, which are primarily responsible
for the promotion and development of enterprises, the Central Government implements,
inter alia, the following schemes for the benefit of women entrepreneurs.:
(i) Trade Related Entrepreneurship Assistance and Development (TREAD) and
(ii) Credit guarantee cover to the extent of 80 per cent of all loans to women operated/
owned enterprises that are unable to provide collateral security. In addition, the Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises has
recently announced new beneficial schemes for women, like: -
(1) Special assistance of up to 90 per cent grant by the Government of India for
development of clusters of women entrepreneurs and establishment of exhibition centres
under the Micro and Small Enterprises Cluster Development Programme (MSE-CDP).
(2) Conduct of exclusive training programmes (Skill Development / Entrepreneurial
Development / Managerial Development, etc.) for women and other disadvantaged sections
free of cost and with the provision of a stipend of Rs.500/- per month per trainee as
announced in the Package for Promotion of Micro and Small Enterprises.
(3) Improvement in market access by women entrepreneurs through participation in 25
international exhibitions.
(c)& (d): These Schemes do not entail allocation of funds to the state governments/UTs.
The details of financial assistance provided to the beneficiaries under the TREAD and
Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme are enclosed at Annexure-I & II respectively. The progress
under the benefits cited at 1, 2 & 3 above would be available at the end of the financial
year, since these new benefits are being implemented for the first time during the
current year.