New Delhi, Dec 13 (KNN) The second meeting to discuss the developments and roadmap ahead for the National SC/ ST Hub is being held tomorrow in the national capital.

The National SC/ ST Hub, was launched by PM Modi in October to monitor the procurement from SC/ ST MSMEs which currently is just 0.3 per cent of the required 4 per cent target.

Talking to KNN, Milind Kamble, President, DICCI, said, “The first high-power and advisory committee meeting has taken place. The second meeting will be held on 14th of December to discuss development and progress of SC/ST hub.”

Leveraging the Stand-Up India programme of the Government, Ministry of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) formed a High Level Committee, headed by the MSME Minister, for reviewing, guiding and monitoring the work done by National SC/ST Hub and other departments for SC/ST entrepreneurs.

The Minister for MSME, Kalraj Mishra, is the Chairman of the Committee and the MoS for MSME Haribhai P.Chaudhary; Secretary, Ministry of MSME; Secretary, Department of Social Justice & Empowerment; Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs; CEO, NITI Aayog or representative; Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises or representative; Secretary, Department of Financial Services or representative are its members.

Along with other members from various departments, heads or representatives of industry bodies including - DICCI; FICCI; Confederation of Indian Industry (CII); Federation of Indian Micro & Small and Medium Enterprises (FISME); Laghu Udyog Bharti and more are also the members of the High Level Committee.

According to the Public Procurement Policy, 20% of total procurement of goods and services by Central Ministries and CPSEs shall be made from the MSEs.

20% of such procurement from MSEs, i.e 4% of total procurement of goods and services shall be made from MSEs owned by SC & ST entrepreneurs.

Presently, less than 0.5% of total procurement of goods and services of CPSEs is made from enterprises owned by SC/ST. (KNN Bureau)