Secretary MSME holds consultation with stakeholders on SC/ST Hub

New Delhi, Apr 21 (KNN) K K Jalan, Secretary, Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Industries, recently chaired a brainstorming meeting with the Banks, State Industry Secretaries and Industry Federations and Chambers on constitution of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) Hub.

Constitution of the National SC/ST hub in partnership with the Industry Associations was announced by the Finance Minister in his Budget speech, to “provide professional support to scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Entrepreneurs to fulfil the obligations under the Central Government Procurement Policy 2012, adopt applicable business practices and leverage and Stand up India initiative”.

The Public Procurement Policy, 2012, among other, reserved procurement of at least 4% of all procurements of central Government ministries and public sector undertakings from SC/ST entrepreneurs.

The Stand Up India initiative announced by Prime Minister Modi recently set a target for each Bank branches to finance at least one SC/ST entrepreneur and one woman entrepreneur with minimum credit of Rs. 10 lakh.

According to a recent report compiled by the Ministry of MSME, the share of SC/ST entrepreneurs in Government supplies is near to zero. So Government propose to set up the ‘Hub’ to facilitate participation of SC/STs in public procurement.

While representatives of all federations and chambers of corporate sector opined to build up the hub within their existing activities, FISME the representative of the MSME sector in the meeting called for focused information dissemination, data compilation and handholding initiatives under the hub.

Dalit India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) Chairman called for an institution for capacity building of the SC/ST entrepreneurs to supply to Government and public sector undertakings and demanded exemption from procedural wrangles for the SC/ST entrepreneurs.

Secretary of Industries, Uttar Pradesh, and bankers present in the meeting listed the initiatives already taken by them for entrepreneurial development of SC /ST youth.

The representative of the Ministry of Social Justice mentioned about the credit Guarantee Scheme launched for SC / ST entrepreneurs with a ceiling of R 5 crore.

Winding up the discussions Secretary MSME, counted the three major steps need to be initiated by the Hub for upscaling of the SC /St entrepreneurs as information dissemination; compilation of live data on performance of the SC/ST entrepreneurs and handholding of the entrepreneurs in availing credit  as well as supply to the Government and public sector undertakings. (KNN/ DB)