Lok Sabha Question No. 3048 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-07
Subject: Symposium on Start-up Ecosystem
Ministry: TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Basavaraj Bommai, Shri Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar, Shri Rodmal Nagar, Shri Godam Nagesh, Ms Kangna Ranaut, Shri Chandra Prakash Joshi, Shri Mukesh Rajput, Shri Naba Charan Majhi, Shri Bhojraj Nag, Smt. Sandhya Ray, Dr. Hemant Vishnu Savara, Smt. Himadri Singh, Shri Mahendra Singh Solanky

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF TRIBAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3048

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.08.2025

## SYMPOSIUM ON START-UP ECOSYSTEM

## 3048. Shri Bhojraj Nag:

Smt. Sandhya Ray:

Dr. Hemant Vishnu Savara:

Smt. Himadri Singh:

Shri Mahendra Singh Solanky:

Shri Basavaraj Bommai:

Shri Chhatrapal Singh Gangwar:

Shri Rodmal Nagar:

Shri Godam Nagesh:

Ms Kangna Ranaut:

Shri Chandra Prakash Joshi:

Shri Mukesh Rajput:

Shri Naba Charan Majhi:

Will the Minister of TRIBAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the objectives of the symposium organised on development of Startup Ecosystem for Scheduled Tribes (STs);
- (b) the total amount and structure of the newly formed Venture Capital Fund for ST entrepreneurs and its allocation;
- (c) the names of the institutions consulted to prepare strategies to promote entrepreneurship at the tribal level;
- (d) the key recommendations of the symposium including steps proposed to strengthen supply chains, ensure grassroots-level training and enhance access to public markets for tribal startups;
- (e)  the  details  of  the  plan  to  develop  a  startup  ecosystem  in  TSP  areas  of  Rajasthan,  Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Telangana;
- (f) the details and the names of the schemes through which the Government has extended benefits in the said States during the last five years, district-wise;
- (g) the details of the people belonging to Scheduled Tribes benefitted under startup schemes in the said States, district-wise;
- (h) whether the Government proposes to conduct such events or incubation drives in ST-dominated blocks of the Dewas-Shajapur Constituency and if so, the details thereof; and (i) the measures being taken to ensure access to funding, training and digital infrastructure for ST entrepreneurs in this region?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR TRIBAL AFFAIRS (SHRI DURGADAS UIKEY)

(a) to (i) The Ministry had launched the scheme of 'Venture Capital Fund for Scheduled Tribes' (VCF-ST) on 10th February, 2024 with a corpus of Rs. 50 crore to promote entrepreneurship among STs across the country including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Telangana. The  fund  is  floated  as  Alternative  Investment  Fund  (AIF)  Category-II  under  Securities  and

Exchange Board of India (SEBI) as debt oriented. The scheme is implemented through IFCI VCF Ltd. So far, an amount of Rs. 8.41 crores have been sanctioned to two tribal companies - one in Telangana (Rs. 5.00 crores) and one in Chhattisgarh (Rs. 3.41 crores).

Under the scheme, IFCI VCF Ltd. organized a Symposium on 28th January, 2025 wherein major Venture Capitalists and Impact Investors were invited to deliberate on actionable strategies aimed at uplifting tribal entrepreneurs, catalyzing investments in tribal-led startups and fostering inclusive  growth.  The  participants  included  representatives  from  Indian  Angel  Network,  Info Edge, IVCA, Aavishkaar Capital, GrowthCap Ventures, Villgro, SKI Capital, IFCI Venture and former  officials  of  SIDBI.  The  key  recommendations  from  the  symposium  included  building quality tribal  enterprises,  targeted  capacity-building programs at village level, identify specific industries  with  high  potential  for  tribal  empowerment  and  innovation,  such  as  agriculture, handicrafts, and sustainable development and promote Fund of Funds (FOF) models to channel investments into innovative and impactful sectors.

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