Mumbai, Jan 24 (KNN) A National SC-ST Hub Conclave was held in Mumbai on Monday to promote the culture of entrepreneurship among members of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities.

Addressing the inaugural session, Union MSME Minister Narayan Rane said, the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched National SC ST Hub and various schemes under MSME Ministry to realize the dream of an Aatmnirbhar Bharat.

“Thanks to various initiatives taken by the SC ST Hub over the years, the share of public procurement from SC/ST entrepreneurs has risen from Rs. 99.37 crores or 0.07 per cent of public procurement in 2015-16 to Rs. 1,248.23 crores or 0.86 per cent of public procurement in 2021-22,” said MSME Secretary B. B. Swain.

The conclave provides an interactive platform to both aspiring and existing SC-ST entrepreneurs to interact with diverse stakeholders comprising Central Public Sector Enterprises, Industry Associations, lending institutions and concerned central and State government departments.

Narayan further said that “MSMEs account for 30 percent of India's GDP and 50 percent of exports. Everyone should contribute to increase this further.”

He urged people to become entrepreneurs by taking benefits of loan facilities and other concessions available under National SC ST Hub Scheme and other schemes of the MSME Ministry.

The main goal of the conclave is to help achieve the sub-target of 4 per cent annual procurement from MSEs owned by SC/ST entrepreneurs, as part of Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs), an official statement Said.

Joint Secretary in MSME Ministry and CMD, NSIC, Mercy Epao, Additional Development Commissioner, MSME, Ishita Ganguli Tripathy,CEO, KVIC, Vinit Kumar, Chairperson, Indian Chamber of Commerce of Affirmative Action, Sunil Zode; National President, Dailt Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Ravi Kumar Narra; MD, Maharashtra Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Ltd., Government of Maharashtra; Commissioner, Social Welfare, Govt. of Maharashtra; and other officers of the MSME Ministry, Development Commissioner; CMD, NSIC; Coir Board and various other stakeholders involved in the services to the sector were also present for the inaugural session, apart from SC ST entrepreneurs.  (KNN Bureau)