Lok Sabha Question No. 4400 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-27
Subject: National SC-ST Hub
Ministry: MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES
Asked by: Shri Rajesh Verma

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4400 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.03.2025

## NATIONAL SC-ST HUB

4400. SHRI RAJESH VERMA:

Will the Minister of MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the National SC-ST Hub (NSSH) Scheme aims to promote entrepreneurship among SC/ST communities, if so, the key objectives and components of the scheme;
- (b) the  number of SC-ST entrepreneurs benefited from the scheme from January to November 2024 and the total number of women entrepreneurs among them;
- (c) the  details  of  the  Special  Vendor  Development  Programmes  (SVDP)  organized  in  various locations including the participation of CPSEs, SC-ST entrepreneurs and other stakeholders;
- (d) the  manner  in  which  the  Mega  Event  (NSSH  Conclave)  contributed  to  sensitizing  and augmenting SC-ST participation in public procurement and the number of entrepreneurs involved; and
- (e) whether  the  Government  plans  to  expand  the  scope  of  NSSH  or  introduce  additional initiatives  to further promote SC-ST entrepreneurship and enhance their participation in the public procurement process and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

(a) and (b): The  National  Scheduled  Caste  and  Scheduled  Tribe  Hub  (NSSH)  Scheme  aims  to promote  entrepreneurship  among  the  SC-ST  and  to  fulfill  the  obligations  under  the  Public Procurement Policy for Micro and Small Enterprises. To boost entrepreneurship among SC-ST, the hub  has  taken  several  interventions  which  include  capacity  building  programmes;  market  linkage programmes viz, participation in domestic and foreign exhibitions, organization of Special Vendor Development  programmes,  workshops/awareness  programmes,  subsidy  on  purchase  of  plant  & machinery/equipment, subsidy for registration under Single Point Registration Scheme, subsidy for enrollment  on  Government  promoted  e-commerce  portals,  etc.  From  January  to  November  2024, 12,962 SC-ST entrepreneurs including women have availed benefit under various components of the scheme.

- (c): 82 Special Vendor Development Programmes with participation of 3557 SC-ST entrepreneurs have been organized in association with CPSEs under NSSH during FY 2024-25 (upto 31.01.2025).

(d): In  order  to  sensitize  and  create  widespread  awareness  among  SC-ST  entrepreneurs  and  to encourage  their larger participation  in  Public  Procurement,  several  awareness  campaigns  are undertaken  under  the  scheme.  As  part  of  awareness  campaign,  this  Ministry  organizes  Mega Events/Conclaves  at  various  locations  across  the  country  to  disseminate  various  components  of NSSH and other  major  initiatives  of  the  Ministry  among  SC-ST  entrepreneurs.  The  NSSH  Mega Event/Conclave  provides  an  interactive  platform  for  SC/ST  entrepreneurs  to  interact  with  diverse stakeholders viz  CPSEs, Industry Associations, lending institutions and State  Governments concerned.  Major  stakeholders  like  Banks,  CPSEs,  TRIFED,  NSTFDC,  NSFDC,  GeM,  Udyam Registration  etc.  are  also  invited  to  share  their  initiatives  and  to  handhold  the  participating entrepreneurs.  During  last  three  years  (FY  2021-22  to  FY  2023-24),  12  NSSH  Conclaves  were organized with participation of  7213 SC/ST entrepreneurs.

(e): To  achieve  objectives  of  the  scheme,  several  initiatives  under  the  scheme  have  been undertaken  from  time  to  time  such  as  inclusion  of  service  sectors  under  Special  Credit  Linked Capital Subsidy Scheme (SCLCSS), assistance for participation in virtual exhibitions, reimbursement of  membership  fee  of  SC-ST  entrepreneurs  charged  by  various  Commodity  Boards,  Export Development Authorities, Export Promotion Organisations etc.

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