Lok Sabha Question No. 2898 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-18
Subject: Entrepreneurship among Scheduled Castes
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Shri Balwant Baswant Wankhade

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2898 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2025

## ENTREPRENEURSHIP AMONG SCHEDULED CASTES

## $2898. SHRI BALWANT BASWANT WANKHADE:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has launched venture capital fund to encourage entrepreneurship among Scheduled Castes (SCs);
- (b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the amount of fund earmarked for the said purpose and the nodal agency identified to operate the said fund;
- (c) whether the Government has also launched 'Green Business Scheme' for Scheduled Castes providing financial assistance for business initiatives to help fight climate change;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the number of Scheduled Castes beneficiaries likely to benefited from the said schemes and the other steps being taken by the Government for overall development of entrepreneurship among Scheduled Castes in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (DR. VIRENDRA KUMAR)

(a) & (b): The Venture Capital Fund Scheme for Scheduled Castes (VCF-SC) was launched on January 16, 2015, with a total corpus of Rs. 750 crore to promote entrepreneurship among Scheduled Castes by providing concessional finance. Financial support ranging from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 15 crore is provided at a 4% coupon rate. IFCI Venture Capital Ltd. is the fund manager.

- (c) to (e): The National Scheduled Caste Financial Development Corporation (NSFDC) launched Green Business Scheme in the year 2017-18 to provide financial assistance in the form of loan for the activities which could tackle the climate change along with income generation. The Schemes covered income generating activities such as solar energy gadgets, poly houses, electric vehicles which could mitigate the Green House effect or could be classified under adaptation initiatives. Under the Scheme NSFDC provided loan up to 90% of the project costing upto Rs.30.00 lakh, with interest rates for beneficiaries varying from 4% to 7%, depending upon the quantum of loan.

The Scheme was discontinued in the year 2023-24 due to lack of demand for funds and subsumed in the newly introduced schemes of Suvidha and Utkarsh loans of NSFDC.

At the time of closure of the Scheme, an amount of Rs.53.85 crore was disbursed to 4316 beneficiaries spread over 8 States.

In addition, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is actively promoting entrepreneurial development among Scheduled Castes (SCs) through various financial and non-financial initiatives. Key steps include concessional loan schemes, venture capital funding for SCs, incubation support for students and researchers through the Ambedkar Social Innovation and Incubation Mission (ASIIM) and. interest subvention programs like the VISVAS Yojana. Additionally, skill development initiatives such as the PM DAKSH Yojana provide technical training, while digital platforms like PM SURAJ integrate financial inclusion schemes. Other government programs, such as Stand-Up India and MUDRA Yojana, further empower small businesses, ensuring broad-based economic participation and self-sufficiency among disadvantaged communities.

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